Tiznit

Tiznit lies between the western foothills of the Anti-Atlas and the Atlantic, about 15 kilometres from the coast and at just under 250 metres.¹ In 2024 the town had 86,595 inhabitants; it is the capital of Tiznit province in the Souss-Massa region.²

Sultan Hassan I founded Tiznit in 1882.³ The wall around the old town is about six kilometres long and has 36 projecting towers as well as four large and four small gates; the sources give 1882 or 1883 as the year of its completion.⁴ Together with the wall of Taroudant it is regarded as important architectural heritage of the Souss.⁵

The medina is divided into four quarters arranged around a spring: the Source bleue, also called Aïn Aqdim or Aïn Zerka, which once watered numerous gardens. Since the Reggada spring nearby was tapped, it has carried much less water.⁶

Tiznit is known for its gold- and silversmiths; the piece most often made is the fibula, usually of silver.⁷ Filigree work is also done, and the jewellery of the region includes pieces with glass beads and enamel.⁸

On the Méchouar, the arcaded main square, stands the palace of Hassan I.⁹ The Great Mosque was built at the beginning of the 20th century; wooden crossbars project from its minaret.¹⁰

The 19th-century Kasbah Aghanaj was restored and converted for a new use by the architectural practice of Salima Naji.¹¹ As the Living Heritage Centre in the medina, the project received a Terra Landscape Architectural Award in 2026, recognised for how it fits into its historic setting and the earthen architecture of the south.¹²

The western Anti-Atlas is divided into the Ifni massif, the Akhsass plateau and the granite basins of Tazeroualt and Kerdous.¹³ The nearest beach is Aglou, 16 kilometres from the town; Souss-Massa National Park begins immediately to the north.¹⁴