Figuig Oasis, Oriental, Morocco
Figuig is a town in eastern Morocco near the Atlas Mountains, on the border with Algeria. The town is built around an oasis of date palms, called Tazdayt, meaning “palm tree” in the Berber language, surrounded by rugged, mountainous wilderness.
Figuig consists of seven different communities, which are: At-Wadday, At-Amar, At-Lamiz, At-Sliman, At-Annaj, At-Addi, Iznayen. The communities are usually made up of a fortified group of houses. Formerly, there were several ksour in Figuig, but today only seven are still standing, including: Ksar Hammam Foukani, Ksar Hammam Tahtani Ksar Laabidate, Ksar Lamiz, Ksar Loudaghir and Ksar Oulad Slimane, who are virtually grouped in the same region, and finally Ksar Zenaga which is in the lower Figuig.
The earthen constructions of southern Morocco are rightly celebrated, because they represent a particular family of pre-Saharan architecture, which is common to all countries of the Great Maghreb, Mauritania and Libya. Homes of Figuig are extended by building rooms over the alleyways and are built mainly with soil, though palm trunks (tizidin) and leaf-heads (tikachba, taratta) are used in roof construction, preserving the earthen architecture style of Morocco. Also the irrigation system of Figuig is culturally interesting.
Epic Morocco Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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