Lola Culsán, John Weller and Danny Weller spent several months campervanning, walking, swimming and exploring Morocco’s secret corners to bring you their new guide book Wild Guide Morocco. These are a few of the amazing Moroccan ruins they discovered along the way. They are also the authors of Wild Swimming Spain and Hidden Beaches Spain.
LULIA CONSTANTIA ZILIL
Excavated in 1958, the Roman/Amazigh city was built by Emperor Augustus between 33 and 25 BC. Its purpose was to house veterans of the Battle of Actium, where Augustus defeated Mark Antony and became ruler of the Roman Empire. The area had been occupied for much longer, though, with excavations showing evidence of habitation as far back as 300 BC. A guardian will show you around the 25-hectare site and pointed out where the temple, amphitheatre, thermae, a surrounding wall and housing had been excavated. Apart from the ruins themselves, there is an incredible 360-degree view over the valley; the grass- covered hills look like waves rolling across a green sea.
KASBAH OF AMERGOU
The walls and towers of the medieval Kasbah of Amergou remain virtually intact and there is evidence of reconstruction work on arches and walls. Although there is no roof, it’s possible to explore rooms and around turrets to get a sense of the layout. The fortress is believed to have been built as part of the defences of the Almoravid Empire in the 11th or 12th centuries, against northern tribal rebellions. Its high vantage point offers incredible views over the valley, mountains and El Wahda Dam below.
VOLUBILIS
This ancient Roman city, near Meknes, is one of Morocco’s best-known archaeological sites, and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Once a vibrant centre of the Roman Empire, where commerce, culture and religion intertwined, it features remarkably preserved ruins including majestic basilicas, grand arches and intricate mosaics revealing the grandeur of Roman life (for some) in north Africa. The Triumphal Arch of Caracalla stands as a striking landmark, framed by mountains, olive groves and small Amazigh villages. Even after 2,000 years, the city’s structure remains impressive, a testament to Roman engineering.
GARA MEDOUAR
Used as a backdrop in films such as James Bond’s Spectre and 1999’s The Mummy, this horseshoe-shaped limestone outcrop near Sijilmassa was fortified in the 11th century to protect the trans‑Saharan trade routes. A crater‑like bulk emerging ethereally from the desert, the rock is pierced by a single track. Follow this up to a summit for a long-distance panorama of the Sahara.
AGADIR INOUMMAR
This 300-year-old stone building is said to be the largest collective granary in the western Anti-Atlas. The impressive hilltop structure was built to store the valuables of 13 surrounding villages. Until 1900, the agadir also functioned as a governing space for village representatives and provided refuge during tribal conflicts. Today, it focuses on storing cereals, food and important documents and each family contributes grain for the guardian, mosque and less-fortunate villagers. Its knowledgeable guardian, Abderahman, offers informative tours, complete with mint tea and biscuits, for a small fee.
