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Tinghir
Tinghir City in Morocco
Tinghir, The Berber City Surrounded by Lush Palm Groves in the Heart of Todgha Valley
Between the High Atlas and Jebel Saghro (Anti-Atlas), from its 1300 meters of altitude, Tinghir is a Berber city founded in the middle of a dense and beautiful palm grove in the heart of the Todgha valley. Rock engravings, instruments and burial sites testify to the presence of humans before our era (7000 BC). Located on the caravan route, it has become an important trading post and civilization crossroads in past centuries: Berbers, Arabs, Jews, sub-Saharan people have settled there and lived by cultivating the land, making artisanal products, and trade carried out with caravans passing through the premises.
In Morocco all the roads of the great gate opening to the infinite spaces of the great desert pass through Tinghir. In recent decades, the number of its visitors thirsty for adventure and discovery of wide open spaces is constantly increasing, making this city the first destination for travellers on their way to the vast rocky plateaus of the Regs and the great undulating dunes of the Ergs. In addition to legendary hospitality and a gastronomy composed of succulent regional dishes, Tinghir offers a History and culture predating the times of the caravans and protectorate, a magnificent palm grove with plants imported from the Nile Valley, green oases, its ancient fortified kasbahs, a succession of ochre and clay ksours, its gorges at the hollow of steep cliffs, and unique panoramas bathed in intense light during the day, and, at night, covered in a dark veil illuminated by thousands of stars, like glitter embroidered in the firmament. Thus Tinghir welcomes and charms its visitors.
Explore Tinghir by choosing from these tours that traverse this stunning region.
Exploring Tinghir - Where the Atlas Mountains meet Desert Wonders
Tinghir is a beautiful natural picture composed of palm groves, oases, gorges and bright lights on a warm background that only wants to be admired before heading to other picturesque landscapes of the great Moroccan desert.
- Population – Geographic Location – Climate:
- Tinghir has a population of approximately 42,000. It is located 362 km east of Marrakech in the Drâa - Tafilalet in the heart of the Todgha valley between the Haut and the Anti – Atlas. The climate of the Tinghir region is arid, with little rainfall (140 mm/year) and irregular, with cool winters associated with an altitude of over 1300 metres.
- Accommodation – Catering:
- Having experienced a great tourist boom, Tinghir continues to increase its potential for hospitality by the inauguration of new hotels and guest houses to meet an increasingly numerous clientele coming to discover its riches. For catering, varied and quality dishes are prepared and served in all hotel establishments and restaurants.
What to visit and do in Tinghir?
Walk in the palm grove and flower gardens
Palm grove of an incredible density of about thirty kilometers long and 1.5 km wide. History says that the plants come from the Nile valley imported by the Beni Maaqil who came from Egypt in the 14th century to settle in the Todgha valley.
Guided tour of Tinghir and its kasbahs
Glaoui Kasbah
Collaborator of the French during the protectorate, he built this kasbah on a rocky promontory so as to dominate the place and control the tribes hostile to foreign occupation. This ksar was attacked and looted many times by the resistance, before a garrison to shelter the French troops was built nearby. Today in ruins, however the location of the kasbah offers superb panoramic views.
Ikelane Mosque and Medersa
The exact date of its construction remains unknown. On the other hand, it is known for its unique architecture.
Village of El Hart
Known for its pottery artisans who make beautiful kitchen and decor objects in ochre earth of the valley.
Zaouia Tizgui Museum
Located in a Kasbah. Exhibition of objects, stones and fabrics to satisfy the curious.
Tinghir Mellah and Berber artisanal carpet factory
Tinghir Mellah
Renamed the Ait El Haj district. It housed the city's Jewish community for more than 2000 years of presence on the site. This community left Tinghir from the 1950s of the 20th century.
The Berber artisanal carpet factory
Berber carpet weaving workshop located in the Mellah of Tinghir. Exhibition and sale.
Hiking to the Todgha Gorges
The river has carved its path at the base of towering cliffs that rise up to 300 meters high, creating a stunning natural landscape. These majestic cliffs have transformed into a climber's paradise, showcasing nature’s artistry at its finest. As you traverse this remarkable terrain, you'll be captivated by the breathtaking views of the river winding through the mountains, nestled beneath the towering rock formations.
Activities in and around Tinghir
Tinghir invites you to experience the authentic heart of Morocco's south. The small city offers a perfect blend of natural wonders and rich Berber heritage. Visit the majestic Todgha Gorges, wander through ancient kasbahs, and discover one of Morocco's most stunning palm oases. From rock climbing adventures to traditional craft workshops.
- Hiking and relaxing in the beautiful palm grove
- Visit of the ksours and kasbahs
- Visit to craft workshops
- Todghra Gorge Hiking Tour
- Todgha cliff climbing for fans of this sport.
- Dades valley excursion
- Excursion to Merzouga and overnight at camp
- Ouarzazate excursion
- Great South Tour
History of Tinghir
Etymology Tinghir is a Berber name. Tin means place, and Ighir means mountain, shoulder or ridge. Tinghir or Tinighir= Mountain place.
History Traces of inhabit ants 7000 years BC. Rock carvings, tools, burial sites testify to this presence.
In the last millennium, Jews fleeing persecution settled in this region and «berberized» by mixing with the local population. Located on the caravan road, in the second half of the first millennium, trade was flourishing in the small state of Todgha where agriculture was also practiced. The know-how of the Jewish craftsmen allowed the exploitation of silver mines and a coin is later struck under the reign of the Idrissides dynasty.
Islamization from 780. The most well-known tribes were the Ait Todgha, the Ait Snan, and the Ait Izdegh.
The Merinids ruled the valley from 1274 to 1331. In the second half of the fourteenth century, the Beni Maaqil from Egypt and Arab Berbers settled in the valley of the Draa, Todgha, and Ziz.The Saadian and Alawite dynasties followed one another.
At the end of the Saadian reign in 1601, being a prosperous region because of the palm groves, trans-Saharan trade and transhumance, various tribes tried to dominate the region by warring against each other. These struggles lasted until unification under the rule of the Alawites (1631). Later, the region will experience rebellions until the Todghra will be submitted under the era of Moulay Hassan 1st.
1912, Morocco is under French protectorate
The Pasha Thami El Glaouide of Marrakech became a collaborator of the French wants to pacify the rebel populations of the south of Morocco. The French troops and the pasha will dominate Tinghir only around 1920. But resistance was organized between unruly tribes and made life hard for the French and their collaborators. In 1927 the Ksar of the mighty Glaoui is stormed.
The French army intervenes in 1931. French artillery and air force bombards the rebellion in 1934 at Bougafer In 1950 the departure of the Jewish community towards Israel began, and this departure will intensify during the six-day war in June 1967.
By the 1970s, a large proportion of the male population of Tinghir emigrated to the mines in northern France and the money sent contributed to a small extent to developing crafts and tourism in Tinghir and its region.
In 2009, Tinghir was promoted to the capital of the province and, with its natural resources, a new impetus was given to its tourism development.
