Taroudant
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Taroudant
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  Taroudant Location in Morocco Show map of Morocco Taroudant Taroudant (Africa) Show map of Africa | |
| Coordinates: 30°28′15.59″N 8°52′50.16″W / 30.4709972°N 8.8806000°W / 30.4709972; -8.8806000 | |
| Country |  Morocco |
| Region | Souss-Massa |
| Province | Taroudant |
| Elevation | 238 m (781 ft) |
| Population
(2014)[1]
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| • Total | 80,149 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (WEST) |
| Postal code |
83000
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Taroudant (Moroccan Arabic: تارودانت, romanized: Tarudant, [taːruːdaːnt]; Tachelhit: ⵜⴰⵔⵓⴷⴰⵏⵜ) is a city in the Sous in southwestern Morocco. It is situated east of Agadir on the road to Ouarzazate and south of Marrakesh. Today, it is a small market town and a tourist destination.[2][3]
The Almoravids occupied the town in 1056.[2] In the mid-15th century the Banu Zaydan, the family who later founded the Saadi dynasty, established themselves near Taroudant in a settlement called Tidsi, which served briefly as the base of the dynasty's first leader, al-Qa'im, until 1513.[4][5][6] According to Moroccan news media, the current layout of the city walls dates to the Saadi period in the 16th century.[3]
In the 17th century, Taroudant was the base of Sidi Yahya, a local chieftain who successfully aided the Saadi sultan Moulay Zaydan against Abu Mahalli, a rebel who had captured Marrakesh.[7]
The city underwent economic decline after the port of Agadir was closed to commerce in 1760.[7] In the late 19th century, Sultan Hassan I established more secure control of the city. At the beginning of the 20th century it resisted government control again until qa'id Tayyeb al-Goundafi restored order in 1903.[7] When France began to impose its protectorate on Morocco in 1912, Ahmed al-Hiba used Taroudant as his capital to resist the French. The French only established control over it in 1917.[7]
Historically, there was a Jewish community in Taroudant, believed to have been established in the 11th century. Jews made up 10% of the city's population, and mainly engaged in the caravan trade.[8] Moses ben Maimon Albas was a prominent Jewish Kabbalist from Taroudant.[9]
On 11 August 2023, a maximum temperature of 48.0 °C (118.4 °F) was registered.[10][relevant?]
Today, Taroudant is a notable market town with a souk near each of its two main squares, Assarag and Talmoklate. There is also a weekly souk outside the city walls, near the future university district.[2]
The medina (historic quarter) of Taroudant is classified as a national cultural heritage monument of Morocco.[11] Its historic city walls are around 6 kilometres (3.7 mi)[2] or 8 kilometres (5.0 mi)[3] long and are set with bastions and punctuated by nine gates that are still in use.[2]
30°28′15.59″N 8°52′50.16″W / 30.4709972°N 8.8806000°W / 30.4709972; -8.8806000
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