Boumalne Dades

About

While there are no written records of when Boumalne Dades was founded, it’s believed to have been settled in the 15th century by exiles from the Reconquest of Spain. Shortly after, a Jewish community arrived and built the Tiylit Castle, a striking ruin standing atop a rocky outcrop on the outskirts of town. Having been built by the French in the 1930s, the town kasbah isn’t an ancient monument, but a symbol of foreign authority, colonization, and the suffering of the local people forced to build it. One of the reasons Boumalne Dades matches the surrounding landscape so well is that many buildings in town are made from traditional adobe, and even the modern concrete buildings are painted to match this earthy color. In April and May, the entire area is blanketed in fragrant roses, with nearby Kelàa Megouna holding a festival dedicated to the blossoms.