It is the most remote city in Mauritania, so far from any other location in the country that it is easier to reach from neighbouring Mali. With Tichitt, Chinguetti and Ouadâne, Oualâta completes the circle of Mauritania’s four caravan cities.
Founded in 1224, it was the last stop for caravans on their way to Timbuktu. It is this very isolation that makes it a fascinating destination to visit, a centre whose atmosphere seems typical of cities forgotten by the world. It must be this aura of mystery that makes it mythical in the eyes of visitors. But there is more. Oualâta is a jewel, an oasis whose clay dwellings give the village a unique appearance. The red colour of the mud bricks, with which the houses are built and decorated with murals both on the façade and inside, strikes you as you enter the village.
Local women are responsible for the decoration, usually consisting of red, white or indigo geometric patterns made from natural pigments. The small museum and library preserve ancient manuscripts of Islamic culture, evidence of how important this intellectual centre was in ancient times. Oualâta is renowned for its gastronomy but also for its traditional art, with imaginative clay sculptures made by local women. If you plan to stay in the town for a few days, don’t miss the camel rides in the surrounding areas to discover nomadic herdsmen, cave paintings and some interesting archaeological sites.
