Azrou
The Mountain Town of Cedar and Stone
Tucked among the green hills of the Middle Atlas, Azrou feels worlds apart from the desert below. Its name means “rock” in Tamazight, a nod to the great stone outcrop that overlooks the town. Here, fresh pine-scented air replaces desert dust, and life moves with the calm pace of a mountain community.
Azrou is known for its lively weekly market and traditional crafts. The town’s artisans are masters of cedarwood carving and handwoven carpets, blending ancient Amazigh patterns with modern designs. A walk through the market reveals the smell of freshly baked bread, the clatter of tools, and the hum of friendly negotiation — an authentic glimpse of mountain Morocco.
💡 Traveler’s Insight:
If you arrive on market day (Tuesday), make time to wander. Locals travel from surrounding villages to trade honey, cheese, and wool. It’s a wonderful chance to experience genuine rural hospitality.
Just outside town stretches the Cedar Forest of Azrou, home to towering Atlas cedars and the playful Barbary macaques that inhabit them. The forest, cool and green, feels like a hidden world — one that whispers of older times when much of North Africa was blanketed in woodland.
🌍 Did You Know?
The Atlas cedar is Morocco’s national tree and can live for over 1,000 years. Some of the specimens near Azrou date back several centuries and were once used to build royal palaces in Fes and Meknes.
Azrou’s balance of natural beauty and living culture makes it one of the Middle Atlas’s most charming stops — a town where travelers find both rest and renewal after the desert’s stark grandeur.
Consider exploring these destinations with Discover Sahara Tours.
Our private and shared excursions from Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Casbalanca, Fes and more include guided visits through these historic sites, along with authentic local experiences and comfortable accommodations.
Explore itineraries and inspiration at Discover Sahara Tours.