Tafraout, town in Souss-Massa, Morocco
Tafraout is a small town in the Tiznit Province of southern Morocco, set among the rock formations of the Anti-Atlas mountains. Its houses are built from local pink-tinted stone and line narrow, winding lanes that climb and dip across the different parts of town.
The town grew as a stopping point along trade routes linking the Atlantic coast to inland areas, where goods changed hands between passing caravans. Over time, many of its inhabitants left to run small grocery shops in Moroccan cities, sending money back and building houses in their home village.
The name Tafraout comes from Berber and means something close to "crack" or "gap," referring to the rocky terrain surrounding the town. Visitors today can watch daily life unfold in the narrow lanes, where locals sell dried fruits, spices, and handwoven goods from small open shops.
Visiting between October and April brings cooler temperatures, making it easier to walk the streets and explore the surrounding area on foot. The lanes are narrow and often uneven, so sturdy shoes are a good idea before heading out.
In the 1980s, Belgian artist Jean Verame painted dozens of large boulders around the town in bright blues, reds, and purples, with the help of Moroccan firefighters who carried the paint up the rocky slopes. These painted rocks, known as the Blue Rocks, sit a short walk from the center and are still visible today.
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