Travel Guide Chenini

Chenini is the last inhabited troglodyte village-citadel of the Dahar. It deserves indisputably the detour, and even to stay there at least one night. Embedded in the mountain, it has a great power of seduction. At the time of our visit, 86 families, mainly Berber, were still living there, the equivalent of 600 souls. It is necessary to visit it early, when the morning light emphasizes it at best. The successful interaction between men and mountains for more than eight centuries unfolds before our eyes, the construction of Chenini going back to the XIIth century. Situated in a strategic location, Chenini controlled the large surrounding plain and the trade routes in the valley below, while protecting the food reserves from invasions. At its summit is the galaa, ksar citadel, with its ghorfas which were used until a few years ago to store grain. The citadel overlooks the troglodytic and semi-troglodytic houses of the village, ingeniously dug into the rock. From the citadel, the view over the valley is breathtaking. Nearby, the beautiful Mosque of the Seven Sleepers forms a beautiful white spot at the foot of the cliff. Don't go up to the citadel without a guide, the narrow path leading to it is dangerous. The snack bar at the top of the village offers a very nice view! On the way back down, we visit one of the oil mills, an activity still important in the region