Description of Ghardaïa

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the M'zab Valley is one of Algeria's most beautiful treasures. We take you on a tour of its capital: the fortified town of Ghardaïa, a city in the Algerian Sahara, 600 km from Algiers. Capital of the Mzab region. The population is predominantly Berber, of the Ibadite faith, with a Malékite Arab minority. Ghardaïa, capital of the M'zab Valley Nicknamed Algeria's "Pearl of the South", Ghardaïa is the capital of the M'zab Valley. Located in the northern Algerian Sahara, Ghardaïa is part of a group of fortified towns known as "ksour". These towns were built by the Mozabites, an Ibadite Berber community. Ghardaïa is part of a pentapolis. The first towns in the traditional pentapolis were built between the 11th and 14th centuries. They were Ghardaïa Al Ataf Bou Noura Melika and Béni Ysguen. From the 17th century onwards, two other towns were added to the original group: Guerrara and Berriane. Founded in 1053, Ghardaïa is the largest of the Pentapolis cities.