Er-rachidia, the capital of the Ziz and Tafilalt region

Er-Rachidia, the capital of a region of transition

Between mountains and desert, between the valleys of the High Atlas, Imilchil and Aït Hani, and the sands of the Sahara, Merzouga, Rissani. … Er-Rachidia, formerly Ksar-Essouk (which can be translated as “the market stronghold”), is today one of those quiet and anodyne administrative towns whose plans were made by the French. Wide streets, low concrete buildings painted in pink ochre, there is little in Er-Rachidia even to keep the tourist away.

Did you know? Ksar-Es-Souk was renamed Er-Rachidia, the town of Rachid, in 1975, in homage to Moulay Rachid, the younger brother of the current king, born in 1970.

However, as soon as you get away from the city a little, there is plenty to see, including some beautiful ksars.

To see in Errachidia

The main one, Meski ksar, is a small village in the heart of the city, where you can find a lot of shops, restaurants and bars.

However, as soon as you get away from the city a little, there is plenty to see, including some beautiful ksars.

To see in Errachidia

The main one, le ksar Meski, located in front of the blue spring, is very old, since it was founded in the Middle Ages, at the time of the Almohad dynasty. Built on a rocky hill that allowed it to dominate the valley, it is the only ksar in the region to use stone as a building material, in addition to earth.

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The blue spring itself, a resurgence of the Draa, is a very pleasant place in the low season. A hammam, built by the foreign legion, a large swimming pool, and a vast campsite shaded by palm trees. At the end of the campsite, some Berber tents. In high season, the blue spring is very busy, perhaps a little too busy.

Weather and climate of Er-Rachidia

The climate of the region is semi-desert. Subject to both the hot influences of the desert, and the coldness that comes from the mountains, often snowed in for part of the winter, temperatures in Er-Rachidia can vary from over 40° in the summer, to – 5° at the lowest point in the winter! Rainfall is rare and irregular, which can lead to violent flooding. Dams, on the Ziz and Gheris rivers, try to regulate the water that comes from both rainfall and snowmelt, and to distribute it regularly for irrigation.

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