Beni-Mellal

Ringed with fortifications built by Moulay Ismail in 1688, this rapidly growing country town nestles in the shadow of 7,373-foot Djebel Tassemit, surrounded by verdant orchards that are well irrigated by the Bin-el-Ouidane reservoir, 59 km (35 mi) to the southwest. Beni-Mellal is largely modern and of little architectural interest, but its Tuesday souk, known especially for its Berber blankets with colorful geometric designs, is an event to catch. The 10-km (6-mi) walk up to the Aïn Asserdoun spring and the Kasbah de Ras el Aïn is well worth the haul for the gardens and waterfalls along the way and the views over the olive groves and the Tadla Plain.