THE BOOK OF
الراشيدية
History, places, people, culture and food of Errachidia, told by two Moroccans.
CHAPTER I
Formerly Ksar es-Souk and renamed Errachidia in honour of Sultan Moulay Rachid, the administrative capital of the Tafilalet commands the Ziz valley, its gorges and its vast palm grove.
CHAPTER II
The town grew up on the Ziz river, which comes down from the High Atlas and further south waters the great Tafilalet palm grove. The medjool date variety originally comes from these palm groves.
For centuries ksour, fortified earthen villages, have lined the Ziz on the road to Sijilmassa, the great caravan city of the 8th to 14th centuries, about a hundred kilometres to the south.
The town was first called Ksar es-Souk, the "market ksar", and Imetgharen in Tamazight. Under the French protectorate it became a military and administrative post controlling access to the Tafilalet and the Saharan borderlands; the Foreign Legion built the road through the Ziz gorges and fitted out a spring at Meski.
Around 1975 the town was renamed Errachidia in honour of Moulay Rachid; sources differ between Sultan Moulay Rachid (c. 1631-1672), considered the true founder of the Alaouite dynasty, and Prince Moulay Rachid, son of Hassan II.
The Hassan Addakhil dam to the north has regulated the Ziz floods since the 1970s and irrigates the palm groves as far as Rissani. A provincial capital, Errachidia grew from about 75,000 inhabitants in 2004 to 95,000 in 2024, and has an airport linked to Casablanca.
CHAPTER III
1900–1930
Ksar es-Souk grows as a market and garrison town on the Ziz.
1975
The town is renamed Errachidia, after Moulay Rachid.
CHAPTER IV
1
To the north, the road passes through a tunnel dug by legionnaires, then winds through a canyon of palms.
2
A spring and natural pool under the palms, facing the old Meski ksar.
3
Seen from the Erfoud road, a green ribbon tens of kilometres long between the cliffs.
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
The region has hundreds of ksour, many still lived in and run by collective rules.
The Tafilalet region is known for its unique Amazigh Berber traditions distinct from the High Atlas — particularly the ahwach communal dance, performed at weddings and moussems (festivals) with call-and-response singing and percussion. Date palm cultivation is central to cultural identity; the Medjool date from the Tafilalet is one of the finest in the world. The Ziz Valley's oasis communities maintain ancient seguia (irrigation channel) systems still managed collectively.
CHAPTER VII
The town, born as a military post, brings together families from the Ziz and Tafilalet ksour, Arab, Amazigh and Haratin. Many work in administration, teaching and the army.
Darija and Tamazight share the town; malhoun sung poetry and ahidous dance accompany celebrations.
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
Allow 1–2 days to see Errachidia without rushing. That is the length we use in our itineraries.
The best months for Errachidia are March, April, October and November.
Per person per day, accommodation included: about $30 on a budget, $70 mid-range and $150 for a luxury stay.
Moulay Ali Cherif Airport (ERH) has occasional flights from Casablanca. CTM buses from Fes (6h), Meknès (5h), Ouarzazate (4h) and Marrakech (8h). Grand taxis run to Merzouga (1.5h) and Rissani (30 min). Driving via the Ziz gorge road is highly recommended.
The must-sees of Errachidia: Ziz Valley, Rissani Souk, Sijilmassa Ruins and Source Bleue de Meski.
To taste in Errachidia: Khobz, Moroccan mint tea, Oranges with cinnamon and Msemen.
The best areas to stay: Ville Nouvelle, Old Ksar and Route de Merzouga.
Yes, Errachidia welcomes many travellers every year. The precautions are those of any tourist destination: watch your belongings in crowds, politely turn down unofficial guides, agree on a taxi fare before getting in.
Yes, Errachidia is easy to visit with children.
To go further and check what we write.
