Brutal simplicity

There is a certain brutal simplicity to large parts of Taza's medina. Still it is a fine place to wanter with its yellow houses, and narrow and covered lanes that sooner or later brings you out to the outer walls and great views over a wide countryside.
In the central areas, there are several streets with qissarias, covered streets.
Shopping in Taza can be interesting. There is plenty on display here, and everything aims at the local market.

Hanging between the continents



The setting of Taza is one of its main attraction, being the country's largest cliffhanger town. Its north and east rests on a precipice rising up from the countryside below. The town's medina is in parts picturesque. The modern parts of Taza lies below the old town, and is of a certain interest. It was laid out as a French garrison town, and much of its character still reflects its military past. Many will find that the modern town is best appreciated when viewed from one of the several medina terraces.

Taza history

Taza
tāza

City in Morocco with 150,000 inhabitants (2005 estimate), divided into three centres, where the old Taza lies on a mountain top, overlooking the two other parts down in the valley
Taza is the city that has given name to the Taza Gap, the valley between the Rif mountains and the Atlas mountains, which has been suggested as the true geological division between Africa and Europe (and not the Strait of Gibraltar).

The economic base of Taza is the surrounding agriculture as well as trade. History

There have been settlements here for several thousands of years, and Taza is one of the oldest towns of Morocco.

1074 CE: Taza is captured by the Almoravids.
1132: Taza is captured by the Almohads. It becomes an important city, and a wall around the city is constructed.
14th century: Goverened by the Merenids. Improved fortifications.
16th century: Goverened by the Saadiens. Improved fortifications.
1902: Bou Hamra declares himself sultan in Taza, and rules much
of eastern Morocco.

1909: Bou Hamra is killed.
1914: Taza is conquered by the French.
1956: Following the independence of Morocco,
Taza becomes part of the new kingdom.

Important mosques




Taza is the home of two 12th century mosques, the Andalous Mosque and the Grand Mosque. The latter is the most important of the two, possibly being the oldest Almohad structure in existence, founded by Sultan Abd el-Moumen. It is believed to predate the mosque at Tin Mal.
Both mosques are hard to take in while walking the streets, they belong to a period when houses were built as close to mosques as possible. The minaret of the Grand Mosque stands out clearly from the silhuette of Taza, seen from a distance.
The interior of both are interesting and attractive, but since this is Morocco, closed for non-Muslims.