Taroudant is a small Berber city situated in the Anti-Atlas, in Sous Valley in
southern Morocco, 85 miles from Adagir and often referred to as 'Grandmother of
Marrakech'. This brown-walled city situated between Agadir and Ouarzazate and
can be easily visited as a day trip. These walls are best preserved walls in
Morocco and look best at dawn and dusk when the gold, pink and orange colors are
imposed by the sun.
These famous walls of Taroudant were made under the reign of Mohammed ash-Sheikh (Saadi Dynasty). In 935 AD he also built a great mosque and its beautiful minaret. Today the orange and olive groves surround the walls and spread in all directions. The town has more of an African than a Mediterranean identity. Taroudant is also famous for its small market of Berber handicrafts, local crafts, jewelry and carpets. All these items are very well priced here. Thursday and Sundays are special market days. Prices are excellent and you can see and buy many original handcraft, nice silver works and leather articles.
Getting there: If you are planning to come to Taroudant by bus then be prepared as may drop you off quite a way from the town centre, so be prepared to walk or use a petite taxi. There are few buses each day to Agadir and Taroudant. The best way to go around is by feet or just renting a bike from local shops or from Hotel Salem. You may either decide to go the old way, taking a horse-drawn carriage.
A famous hotel in this area is very pretty Palais Salam, a renovated old Kasbah and woodwork painted with colorful traditional Arabic paintings. Another famous hotel is La Gazelle which is a romantic and deluxe retreat offering high levels of service and accommodation. On the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in 200 acres of orange groves the residence is located about five minutes drive from the centre of Taroudant and 45 minutes from Agadir airport.
