7 Best Sights in Taroudant, Agadir and the Southern Atlantic Coast

The city walls of Taroudant date from the 16th century and are unique in their completeness and for the fact that the new city has not yet encroached upon them, making the 7½ km (4½ miles) of walls easily visible and approachable. There are five main entry points into the city (from the northwest, going clockwise): Bab el Kasbah, Bab Zorgan, Bab Targhount, Bab Ouled Bounouna, and Bab el Khemis. The one place to climb upstairs onto the ramparts for a view across the town is at Bab el Kasbah.

Diagonally across from Bab Sedra, across Avenue Moulay Rachid and with the hospital on your right, is the Dar Baroud, once a French ammunition-storage facility. This high-walled building is closed to the public—and is locally rumored to be haunted—but stand back on the sidewalk opposite and you can admire its delicate carved stone walls from the exterior.

In the northeast side of the city, you'll find the kasbah, or the former king's quarter. It was built by Alouite leader Moulay Ismail in the 17th century. On Avenue Moulay Rachid, with the main gate (Bab el Kasbah) behind you, you'll see a smaller gate (Bab Sedra) on the right, which is the old entrance into the kasbah quarter. Inside the walls is a typical medina residential area with little left of any original structures apart from the gates. The area in front is now a public park and a great place for watching the evening promenade.

Chilean artist Claudio Bravo came to Morocco in 1972 and built this palatial home-turned-museum with stunning gardens and stables 10 km (6 miles) outside Taroudant. Following his death in 2011, the estate became a museum showcasing his art and collections, including works by friends like Picasso. The palace is divided into several pavilions connected by inner courtyards and covered walkways, while inside the guest rooms, salons, and Bravo’s private rooms and studios are paintings, sculptures, and artifacts, including Roman and North African ceramics. Wander through the gardens full of exotic plants to the large water basin, and rest in the shade of a pavilion with a cup of tea and views of the Atlas Mountains. A full guided tour takes two to three hours, but it’s possible to do an unguided visit of the gardens. You must reserve in advance to visit. You can also reserve for lunch or dinner (expect to pay 400 DH–500 DH per person).

This plaza sits between the two main souks (the so-called Arab and Amazigh markets) and serves as the center of life in Taroudant. Although not as lively as Marrakesh's square of Jemaa el-Fnaa, you still may be able to see performers on the square in the late afternoon. Be sure to join the locals in taking a mint tea on a café terrace and watching the scene unfold.

In the city itself, the municipal market (also referred to as the Amazigh souk) sells spices, dried fruits, and other household essentials. In an open-air area to the east, you'll find men upcycling plastics and tires into saddles, water troughs, and panniers for donkeys. The older, so-called Arab market is the better one for souvenirs, and here you can pick up local terra-cotta, brass, and copper items, along with leather sandals, rugs, and jewelry. You can access the souks from Place Assareg.

Just outside Bab Targhount, gifted artisans work at Taroudant's tanneries, and you can see them working the leather firsthand (not always a pleasant olfactory experience). Many places around town sell the locally made leather goods, such as bags, poufs, sandals, and decorations, for which Taroudant is famous.