The old cities of Ouadane, Chenguetti, Oualata and Tichitt are a vestige of a rich past, that of the Trans-Saharan trade which made these cities part of the city-relays between North Africa and the Black Africa through the Sahara. These cities had a profound religious and cultural influence.

The Towns of Chenguetti and Ouadane are in Adrar, the town of Tichitt is in Tagant and Oualata in Hodh EChargui. These four cities were relays on the long routes of the caravans, by which passed part of the trade between North Africa and the Black Africa and lasted for centuries.

The arrival of Europeans on the Coasts of Africa gradually diverted commerce towards trading post’s which were created little by little on the coasts thus causing the ruin of these cities.

CHINGUETTI:is 90 km from Atar, 90km and 120 km from Ouadane.

Atar is located less than 100 kilometres from, the capital of the area of Adrar, Chenguetti. It is now more accessible since the opening of the new trail, which is more viable than the old one, which goes through the Amogjar pass.

Regarded as the 7th Holy City of Islam, Chenguetti was a religious centre and famous intellectual with many Koranic schools and universities. The city attracted many scientists. A caravan city, Chenguetti played a significant commercial role. It was especially a stop over for the pilgrims going to Mecque.

The influence of Chenguetti largely exceeded the borders of current Mauritania. Its scholars were renowned as far as the Orient. As a matter of fact Mauritania was known as the “Bilad Chenguetti”. The city reached its apogee during the 17th and 18th century.

Today Chenguetti is a city mostly buried under the dunes. It offers an impressive spectacle for the visitor who will note the inexorable advances of the desert. Some rare constructions still remain in the old city, of which the Mosque which dates from the XIII century with its rectangular minaret.

The Libraries of Chenguetti contain hundreds of invaluable manuscripts and well preserved according to traditional methods. They are jealously protected family libraries.

Recommended places to visit: the Mosque and the Libraries, the colonial Fort (Fort Saganne known from the film)

LODGING

The inns are now numerous in Chenguetti, there are at least ten. Some of them are: MAISON DU BIEN-ETRE, AUBERGE DE L’EDEN, LA ROSE DES SABLES, AUBERGE NOUATIL, AUBERGES DES CARAVANES, HOTEL FORT SEGANNE

OUADANE: is 120 km from Atar, approximately 4 hours of trail to Chinguetti; Atar is 200km.

Ouadane, or the City of the “ two oueds” is an old city whose foundation would date back to 1140. It knew its moments of splendours as a flourishing caravan city for the Trans-Saharan trade. It was the most significant city of the Mauritanian Sahara . Its rich palm plantations were famous. It had seven mosques and large libraries. The city was visited by the Portuguese as early as the 17th century. They established trade with the inhabitants. Ouadane reached its apogee during the 17th century. Its decline started with the massive diversion of the trade to the coasts by the Europeans towards the end of the 17th century.

UNESCO classifies the city as part of the World Inheritance to humanity. In the middle of the desert, Ouadane seems lost in the great expanse of the Sahara. The disappearance of caravans brought about the decline of this city.

Ouadane offers exceptional landscapes because of its geographical situation. Ouadane attracts visitors by the architecture of its houses built in cliffs. Today, tourism offers to Ouadane a new chance to rise again.

The local economy benefits from this activity with the multiplication of inns and small restaurants (gargotes).

LODGING

AUBERGE (INN) VASQUEZ, KAWLANE, WARANE, AGUEIDIR.

Recommanded places to visit: the old Mosque, the palm plantation, the old city. As far as other surrounding sites to see somee vestiges it is necessary to go to Tin Labbe, there is also the mysterious Guelb Errichat, and the meteorite studied by Theodore Monod, El Beyedh and the Fort of El Ghallaouya. All that within a radius of 80 km maximum.