Zagora (Morocco) - Zagora (Marocco)

Zagora (Zakūrah, Zagurah, Zākūrah, in Tamazight "Tazaurt") is a city of Saharan Morocco, capital of the province of the same name.

To know

Zagora is one of the most famous tourist resorts of Morocco: Its fame is due to the possibility of countless excursions on camel back to the oases of the desert and the Drâa valley.

Zagora is also renowned for its numerous kasbahs.

The town is located at the foot of the mountain (jebel) Zagora from which it took its name. Originally the mountain was called "Tazagourt" or "Tizigirt", a Berber word meaning "twin peaks". In the old European maps, Mount Zagora and its oasis are already marked but the city arose in the twentieth century as a military outpost and administrative center on the initiative of the French. On the top of Mount Zagora you can still see the remains of an Almoravide fortress.

The famous road sign indicating "Timbouctou 52 days", (presumed time it takes to get to Timbouktu by camel) has been replaced by a mural.

Geographical notes

Zagora is located in the Draa valley, (in the central area of ​​Morocco), close to the sandy desert of Ilkhikhn n Sahara.

When to go

The most suitable months are winter (from November to March) even if sometimes an extremely annoying icy wind blows. The daily temperature fluctuations are conspicuous and at night the temperature regularly drops to 4ºC.

The least suitable months are summer, characterized by an average temperature of 45.7º C.

Spoken languages

The inhabitants of Zagora belong to the Berber tribes of the Atlas. In addition to Arabic, Tashelhit, a Berber dialect spoken mainly among the elderly, and Tamazight, another Berber dialect exclusive to central Morocco, are widespread.

Suggested readings

• Allain (Ch) & Meunie (J.), "La forteresse almoravide de Zagora", Hespéris, 1956.

How to orient yourself

How to get

By bus

Buses from Marrakech, 354 km away, it takes about 7 hours to get to Zagora.

From Ouarzazate, 162 km away, two and a half hours are enough.

How to get around

What see

• Remains of an Almoravid fortress (On the summit of Mount Zagora). 

Events and parties

• Zagora marathon. 
• Nomad Festival, M'Hamid. 

What to do

Shopping

How to have fun

Where to eat

Where stay

Safety

How to keep in touch

Around

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Zagora (Morocco)
• Commons contains images or other files on Zagora (Morocco)

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