The medina walls, around 3km in circumference, have recently been restored. They are a legacy from when Taza served briefly as the Almohad capital in the 12th century. The bastion – where the walls jut out to the east of the medina – was added 400 years later by the Saadians. The most interesting section of wall is around Bab er-Rih (Gate of the Wind), from where there are superb views over the surrounding countryside. Look southwest to the wooded slopes of Jebel Tazzeka in the Middle Atlas, and then to the Rif in the north, and it’s easy to see the strategic significance of Taza’s location.
