Ghardaia is the main of the five cities in the M'zab valley in Sahara, some 600 km south from Algiers and Medditeranean Sea. The cities of this pentapolis are Ghardaia (capital), Bounura, Beni Isguen (most sacred), Melika (main cemetery) and Al-Atteuf (oldest part) have walled centers (called Ksars) with a fortress-like mosque and minaret and storage in the centre on a hill surrounded by a maze of narrow streets and alleys and standartized cubical houses constructed in concentric circles aroung the mosque and hill. The place was founded by the Mozabites. These were of Berber origin and in 11th centure they were defeated by Fatimids in north and found a safe refuge far from their enemies in the canyons. Ironically the have quite soon converted to the religion of their enemies so the major population is now of the Ibadi Islam sect (another major Ibadi religion places are Oman and Zanzibar). However the isolation of the communities is still present in the defense-based architecture of ksars. The palm grove oases are surrounding the ksars using the river beds of the canyon valley.

The picture shows the market place in Ghardaia, the carpets are a trademark of this region, using colours and plain geometry.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982.

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