Timit

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Timit
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Timit (Morocco)
Timit
Timit
Basic data
State : MoroccoMorocco Morocco
Region : Béni Mellal-Khénifra
Province : Azilal
Coordinates 31 ° 39 ′  N , 6 ° 26 ′  W Coordinates: 31 ° 39 ′  N , 6 ° 26 ′  W
Residents : 300
Height : 1800  m
The Agadir Sidi Moussa differs from all Agadirs in Morocco because of its circular floor plan. Inside there are storage chambers as well as the grave of a “holy man”. The structure can therefore be referred to as an Agadir (storage castle) as well as a marabout .

Timit (also Timmit ; Zentralatlas-Tamazight ⵜⵉⵎⵉⵜ Timit ) is a small mountain village inhabited by Berbers with about 300 inhabitants and about 50 houses in the Aït Bougoumez valley on the north side of the High Atlas in the province of Azilal ( Béni Mellal-Khénifra region ), Morocco . It belongs to the rural community ( commune rurale ) of Tabant .

location

Timit lies roughly in the middle of the Aït Bouguemez valley, which is around 30 kilometers long and around 1800 meters high. A further 30 villages are grouped along the valley and mostly on stony ground. The place can be easily reached by minibuses or cars from Azilal via an asphalt, but winding road.

landscape

The valley is bordered to the south by the peaks of the High Atlas, which are snow-capped until late spring (sometimes up to June on the north side), whose meltwater ensures a permanent water supply for the people and the cultivated areas all year round. In this way, two harvests are sometimes even possible, which has earned the valley the nickname “Happy Valley”.

economy

For centuries the economy of the remote but fertile valley was geared towards self-sufficiency and self-sufficiency; Markets were simply too far away. A system of strict controls ( agdal ), which was strictly based on the availability, individual needs and the common use of natural resources (water, soil, wood, etc.) enabled the inhabitants of the high valley to survive successfully and sustainably.

Village

Timit has retained a lot of its original character: Some of the clay buildings are still inhabited and sometimes part of domestic life (preparing food, cooking, baking bread, braiding and weaving, etc.) still takes place on the doorstep. In most of the other villages in the valley, many old houses have already been replaced by new buildings with walls made of hollow bricks, ceilings made of concrete and satellite dishes on the roofs, which has a direct impact on the coexistence of people - mutual isolation is increasing.

Agadir Sidi Moussa

The most important building of the village and ultimately of the entire valley is Agadir Sidi Moussa, located on a hill about 200 meters high. The building is named after a "holy man" ( marabout ) ( sidi = lord, moussa = Moses) who is said to have worked here centuries ago and whose tomb is said to be inside the Agadir. This combination of burial site and storage castle is almost unique in Morocco, although such a connection is also occasionally mentioned in the Agadir Tasguent .

architecture

Four towers protrude from the circular, two-storey structure with a diameter of around 20 meters, which also tower above the roof. The lower area of ​​the Agadir mostly consists of larger stones, which give the building a certain basic stability and at the same time prevent the rise of soil moisture, above it there are clay walls interspersed with small stones and some straw. A large number of light and ventilation slots are embedded in the clay walls, which - in times of raids by nomads - could also be used as loopholes.

The rafters with their overlay made of reed and earth protrude about 50 cm over the outer walls, which should prevent or at least reduce the washout of the clay masonry. However, since the building is hardly being restored any more, the wind and rain of the last few decades have caused clearly visible damage.

Heart of the Agadir Sidi Moussa

Interior

The interior is characterized by a round core structure, the windowless outer walls of which serve as a support for the rafters - the interior is said to contain the saint's grave. Around the core building there is a partially two-storey corridor with around 30 storage chambers, in which parts of the harvest, but also valuable objects of life (agricultural implements, weapons, etc.) could be stored. The Agadir was constantly guarded by a guard - in times of crisis also by several guards; it was also believed that the marabout also played its part in protecting the structure.

Agadir Sidi Chita

The ruins of the Agadir Sidi Chems, built on a square floor plan, rise on a partially wooded hill about four kilometers away, which was also a cross between the warehouse castle and the burial site, but was abandoned to decay decades ago.

meaning

The remote and therefore largely original Aït Bouguemez Valley is worth a detour almost at any time of the year. The villages and the Agadir Sidi Moussa provide insights into ways of life as well as beliefs and ideas that have long since disappeared elsewhere - even in large parts of Morocco.

Trekking

Guided hiking and trekking tours are offered by local operators; The M'Goun massif (4071 m) can also be climbed almost all year round .

See also

Web links