🕌 Chinguetti Old Mosque

About This Sacred Site

The old mosque of Chinguetti, dating to the 13th century, is the spiritual centerpiece of a UNESCO World Heritage desert city often referred to as the 'seventh holy city of Islam.' Chinguetti was a major center of Islamic scholarship in the medieval Sahara, with libraries containing thousands of ancient manuscripts on theology, law, astronomy, and medicine. The mosque's distinctive square minaret, one of the oldest in continuous use in the Muslim world, has guided travelers across the desert for centuries. Chinguetti was a crucial gathering point for West African pilgrims making the long journey to Mecca.

Key Facts

• •UNESCO World Heritage Site, the mosque dates to the 13th century
• •Chinguetti is known as the 'seventh holy city of Islam'
• •The square minaret is one of the oldest in continuous use worldwide
• •The city's libraries contain thousands of ancient Islamic manuscripts
• •Was a major gathering point for Hajj pilgrims from West Africa

Location

Coordinates: 20.4611, -12.3647