Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Archaeological Site
(
http://aghmatarchaeology.org
)
Excavations about 200m to the left off the main road began in
2010, co-financed by the state, revealing ancient urban foundations, including a hammam,
mosque, marketplace and irrigation. Work at the site has so far unearthed over 7000 arte-
facts and there are hopes for a future museum.
HISTORIC SITE
Mausoleum
Al-Mutamid's tomb is marked with a domed Almoravid-style mausoleum. It's signed
right off the main road after the commune building, inside a garden enclosure 200m along
on the left. The dissident's tomb was the site of a 1950 protest against French occupation
that was violently suppressed by Pasha Glaoui - an inciting incident in Morocco's inde-
pendence movement.
HISTORIC SITE
TNINE
Beyond the turn-off for Aghmat and 33km from Marrakesh along Rte d'Ourika is the
town of Tnine (aka Tnin l'Ourika), where you may run into donkey traffic at the
Monday
souq
.
Sights & Activities
Nectarôme
( 0524 48 21 49;
www.nectarome.com
;
Km 34 Rte de l'Ourika, Tnine; garden visits Dh15;
9am-7pm Sep-Jul)
Just after the bridge in Tnine, signs off the main road point down a dirt
track towards the organic botanical gardens of a Franco-Moroccan natural bath-product
company that combines Berber herbal remedies with modern aromatherapy. The garden
certainly smells great, and a footbath and foot massage with organic essential oils (Dh250)
is just the thing after a trek.
If you're in Tnine for the Monday souq, the gardens are also a good place to stop for
lunch (Dh60 to Dh80).
GARDENS
Safranerie
( 0522 48 44 76;
www.safran-ourika.com
;
Km 34 Rte de l'Ourika, Tnine; garden tours adult/under 16yr
Dh20/free; 7am-5.30pm)
Almost anything thrives in Ourika's rich soil, including saffron
(Crocus sativus),
organically grown here from bulbs that are cultivated near Talouine. Saf-
fron is a high-maintenance plant, with flowers harvested before dawn for maximum po-
GARDENS
