Tin Mal Mosque
A roofless twelfth-century Almohad mosque standing alone in a High Atlas valley, badly damaged in the 2023 earthquake.
Updated 20 October 2026
Tin Mal was where the Almohad movement began: Ibn Tumart established himself in this remote valley in the 1120s and from here his followers took Marrakech and eventually most of North Africa and Spain. The mosque was begun in 1148 to commemorate him, and it survived - roofless and without its ceiling, but with its brick arcades, mihrab and minaret standing - because the place was abandoned and there was nothing here to reuse the stone for. It is one of only two mosques in Morocco that non-Muslims have been able to enter, precisely because it is no longer in use. The plan and the arch forms are the clearest surviving statement of Almohad architecture. The mosque was seriously damaged in the September 2023 earthquake, whose epicentre was close by, with parts of the structure collapsing; restoration has been announced and access has been restricted since.
History
Ibn Tumart, founder of the Almohad movement, settled his followers here in 1124 or 1125 and was buried here in 1130, and a sanctuary grew around his tomb. His successor Abd al-Mu'min built a new mosque in 1148, though the date of 1153-1154 given by the Rawd al-Qirtas is still often cited; the mosque was placed on the UNESCO tentative list in 1995 and suffered serious damage in the 2023 earthquake (Wikipedia, Tinmal Mosque).
What you'll find
- Where the Almohads began - the movement's base in the 1120s before it took Marrakech.
- A 12th-century memorial mosque - roofless, with arcades, mihrab and minaret surviving.
- Enterable by non-Muslims - one of two in Morocco, because it is no longer in use.
- 2023 earthquake damage - parts collapsed, with restoration announced.
When to go
Spring and autumn - but check current access first. An hour.
Things to know
The mosque was badly damaged in 2023 and access has been restricted; confirm before driving out. The Tizi n'Test road is narrow and slow. There are no facilities at the site. Surrounding villages are still rebuilding.
Nearby
Ijoukak and the Agoundis valley are north; the Tizi n'Test is south.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q12192954, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Tin Mal Mosque
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A scarf or shawl - To cover the head or shoulders on entry; women especially at mosques. Find on Amazon
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