Taroudant is a beautiful place to stop-explore the enchanting souk, take in some of the best preserved walls in Morocco, and eat some of the best cooking in the south. The city is enclosed by medieval walls which look best at dusk, when the gold, pink and orange colors are brought out by the...

Taroudant is a beautiful place to stop-explore the enchanting souk, take in some of the best preserved walls in Morocco, and eat some of the best cooking in the south. The city is enclosed by medieval walls which look best at dusk, when the gold, pink and orange colors are brought out by the setting sun.

Olive and orange groves surround the walls and spread in all directions. On a clear day you can see the High Atlas towering over the walls, an impressive sight. The walls and the groves are best seen by bike, which can be rented from Hotel Salem and from a shop near Hotel Taroudant. Another option is taking a horse-drawn carriage at sunset. The towns ambiance reflects its past splendors as it was once one of the most important towns in Morocco (and in the 16th century the capital of the Saadian empire). It remains a friendly Berber market town and has more of an African than a Mediterranean identity.

Try to be there on a market day (Thursdays and Sundays)look for Berber handicrafts-especially jewelry- but try to avoid the groups of tourist coming for a day-trip from Agadir. The town is also a convenient base for trekking into the Western High Atlas or Djebel Sirwa.

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