El Atteuf
العطف / Tajnint
The oldest of the five M'zab towns (founded 1012), with an old mosque that has two minarets, quiet earth-toned lanes, and fewer tourists than Ghardaïa.
El Atteuf lies at the far eastern end of the valley and was founded in 1012. It is the earliest of the five fortified towns of the M'zab Valley, and locally it is called Tajnint. Like the others, it is stacked on a hill. Its old mosque has two minarets because the community inside is split into two factions. Outside the town are a large white cemetery and the Sidi Brahim Mosque. The atmosphere is calm, and there are far fewer visitors. You must book a guide at the tourist office by the town gate, and a visit takes about 1–1.5 hours. The town is about 9 km from Ghardaïa, so take a taxi or hire a car to get there.
Opening hours
Daytime visits with a guide
Nearby sights
- Sidi Brahim Mosque (El Atteuf)
- Bounoura
- Beni Isguen
- Ksar Tafilelt
- Melika
- M'zab Palm Groves
- Ksar of Ghardaïa & Market Square
- Metlili