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TravelTips24 : Africa : Saharan Africa : Niger : Agadez

Agadez

Agadez is in Niger.

Travel to Agadez & Visa Requirements

Tours & Getting around Agadez

Agadez attractions and sightseeing

  • Mosque of Agadez, built in 16th century
  • Palace of Sultan

Agadez (1988 pop. 50,164)is located in the Aïr Massif of Niger in West Africa. Agadez is a trade center visited by Tuareg pastoral nomads. Leather and silver handicrafts are made. Tin, tungsten, uranium, and salt are mined nearby. Founded in the 11th century, Agadez developed because of its location on trans-Saharan caravan routes linking Egypt and Libya with the Lake Chad area. Agadez was held by the Mali empire during part of the 14th century, captured by the Songhai empire in 1515, and controlled by Bornu in the 17th cent. It remained a trade center until the late 19th cent. During much of this time it was a center of Islamic learning. The French occupied the town in the early 20th cent. Agadez has a 16th-century mosque and a school of mines.

Agadez city tours

Agadez souvenirs & shopping

Agadez Tuareg Cross - The markings and geometrical design of Tuareg crosses and Tuareg jewelry in general translates into protective symbolism. "God is the center of the universe, we are one with God" and "no matter where you go God and I shall always be with you and protect you" are common Saharan interpretations. Those of the Muslim faith believe that the arms of the cross will disperse all evil from the individual, thus keeping him out of harms way. Tuareg parents are known to give these exquisite silver crosses to their children when they are about to depart from home but they are worn by all as a form of good luck and protection. The Tuareg people are the original Canaanites from the Bible. The meaning of Canaan is 'land of the purple people.' This unusual moniker is in reference to the bluish-purple vegetable dye the Tuareg use to color their clothing that subsequently rubs off onto their skin. The Tuareg are renown for their metal and leather workings. The silver crosses are uniquely shaped and are named after the town of Agadez from where they originate. The cross bears the jewelers mark on its back. The beaded necklace contains four cylindrical decoratively embossed silver segments.

The Touareg crosses sold come in a number of designs. The Agadez cross is the most common, but many others are available. Each design is associated with a particular Touareg market town. Other examples include the Timia cross, the Iferouane cross and the unusual Ingal cross

Agadez Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

  • Le Piliers(+227) 94254419 - Italian restaurant run by the owner of the restaurants by the same name in Niamey and Iferoune.

Agadez nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

Agadez cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

  • Etoile du Tenere, (+227) 20 440 458, [1].
  • La Tendé, (+227) 20 440 075, [2].
  • Pension Tellit, (+227) 20 440 231.
  • Hotel de la Paix, (+227) 20 440 234.

Get out

  • Rent a 4x4 car with a driver... (expensive)

Where to go:

  • Air mountains
  • Yearly(?) Tuareg festival in Iferouane

This page was last edited at 16:05, on 14 July 2008 by Wikitravel user H3O. Based on work by David and Jan S?upski, Wikitravel user(s) Episteme and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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