The Icht Oasis in the Moroccan province of Tata boasts an extraordinary cultural and natural heritage: a historic ksar, a lush palm oasis, an ancient mud-brick mosque, caves, rock engravings, and traditional communal granaries. There used to be an old museum that attracted around 2,000 visitors each year. Now, everyone is working together to revive the old museum in the village of Icht.
A new eco-museum is to consist of an exhibition space in the village and a themed walking tour through the oasis that connects the area’s most important cultural and natural sites.
The museum exhibition aims to showcase the tangible and intangible culture of the oasis: traditional agriculture, crafts, local products, jewelry, as well as customs and festivals. The walking tour highlights key features of the landscape, such as the mud-brick ksar, the palm oasis, prehistoric rock engravings and caves, and historic sites of remembrance.
The museum’s development will be based on a participatory approach: Local residents will be involved, together with the Tamount Association, in the planning, collection, education, and operation of the museum. This is intended to ensure that the project contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage and the promotion of sustainable cultural tourism. The ecomuseum thus aims to raise sustainable awareness of the region’s Amazigh culture.
