GUIDED VISIT OF THE "CITY OF THE 333 SAINTS"

• Mosque of Djingareiber

The Mosque of Djingareiber is an architectural jewel, builds since 1325 by Ibrahim Abû Ishaq Essaheli who received from Emperor EL Hadj Kankou Moussa’s hands forty thousand mitqals of gold. This mosque presents two minarets, twenty five lines in the southern northern direction and nine in the East-West direction. Its massive pillars, its interior yard and its principal minaret, of pyramidal form, are the characteristics of its belonging of the Sudanese architectural style. Since 1989, this mosque registered on the list of the World Inheritance, profits from a "project of safeguard" managed jointly by the Center of the World Inheritance of UNESCO and the Ministry for the Culture.

2.House of Gordon Laing

Gordon Laing is the English explorer who arrived at Timbuktu on August 18, 1826. Its House, located in the district of Djingareiber, is integral part of the old city classified national heritage, according to Decree 92-245/P.RM of 18-12-92. A bronze plate affixed on its frontage carries the following inscription: "TO MAJOR GORDON LAING, West India Regiment, fallen here in 1826. Erected in his honor and memory by the African Society of London, 1930 ". This house, entirely built with banco material, appears as a traditional masonry including a hall and a floor. It was restored in 1992, following a subsidy offered by the embassy of the United Kingdom.

3. House of Rene Caillié

Réné Caillé is the French explorer who entered Timbuktu on April 20, 1828. His house, located in the district of Djingareiber, is nearly seventy meters in the east of that of Laing. It is marked by two plates:

- one of bronze carrying the following inscription: "To remember French Colonel. To Rene Caillié 1799-1838. He lived this house from April to May 1828, during his journey from Guinea to Morocco, from April 9, 1827 to September 7, 1828 ";

- the other made of marble holding the following inscription: "Those of Aunis and Saintonge who keep ashes and the memory of Réné Caillié entrusted, in 1938, this stone commemorative of his centenary to Louis Ardouin-Dubrevil, explorer originating from Saintonge, to carry it through the Sahara to Timbuktu, in the house in which their big patriot lived"

4. Mosque Sidi Yehia

The Mosque of Sidi Yehia, built about 1400 by Mohamed Naddi, is the best maintained of three big mosques of Timbuktu, registered on the list of the world inheritance. It profits however from a project of restoration managed jointly by the Center of the World Inheritance of UNESCO and the Ministry for Culture.

5. Well of Bouctou

The Well of Bouctou, symbol of the original site of the well-known woman Bouctou who kept the luggage of the founders of the City. Following the lexical deformations, the Targui language word “Tin Bouctou” or “well of Bouctou”, became Tombouctou, Tinbuktu/Timbuktu. This place materializes also the palace of Mohamed Naddi, chief or mayor of the City, from1433 to 1467, the same one who financed the construction of the mosque of Sidi Yehia.

6. Berky

Berky is the first American explorer who undertook the crossing of the desert in 1913, from Biskra to Timbuktu. Its site is opposite to Timbuktu Koy Batouma, the municipal museum where is localised the well of Bouctou.

7. House of Dr. Heinrich Barth

Dr. Heinrich Barth is the German explorer who remained in Timbuktu from September 7, 1853 to 1854. His house is located in Badjindé, a district of the old City (medina), classified national heritage. The principal frontage carries a bronze plate, inaugurated by the President of the F.R.G., in 1966. This house was restored with the assistance of Germany in 1992.

8. House-Library of Mohamed Bagayogo

Mohamed Ben Mohamoud Ben Abou Bakr Bagayogo Al-Wangari was born in Djenné in 1523. Skilful and virtuous jurisconsult, he ensured the functions of Imam of the mosque, of Cadi of Timbuktu and professor at the university of Sankoré. He died on July 7, 1593 and his house located at Badjindé constitutes an integral part of the old town of Timbuktu.

9. The Big Market

 Formerly called Badjindé, place of predilection of the hippopotamuses, it became, following the progressive draining of branch of Niger river , a space of exchange between the caravaneers of North and Wangara people of Africa in the South of the Sahara. The principal building was built in 1950, then demolished and renovated successively in 1966 and 2003.

10. House Dr. Oscar Lenz

 He is an Austrian who remained in Timbuktu of the July 1 to 7, 1880, his house, located at fifty meters in the East of the big market, is completely in ruin. A plate brought back on his behalf was hanged on the house facing his original one.

11. Mosque of Sankoré

 Built under the Mandingue reign 1325-1433, the University Mosque of Sankoré is registered on the list of the world inheritance since 1989. Like Djingareiber and Sidi Yehia, it is managed jointly by the Center of the World Inheritance and the Ministry for Culture.

12 Diam Tendé

 Symbol of the traditional craft industry, the craftsmen of this workshop would come from the companions of Ibrahim Abu Essaheli, Andalusian architect, builder of the Mosque of Djingareiber. By their art and their expertise, they made important modifications in the architecture of Timbuktu.

13 Library Mamma Haïdara

 Located at the south east of the town of Timbuktu, library MAMMA HAIDARA is a model of co-operation between the HARVARD University , the Ministry for Culture and the owner Haidara. It constitutes one of the cultural and intellectual poles of Timbuktu which contains 9000 manuscripts. In the origin, this library was localised in Bamba, a zone close to Gao, and it is only at the end of the 14 th century that its holders, concerned to improve but also to make profit intelligentsia by this immense treasure, decided to be established in Timbuktu.

14 Library Fondo Kati

 Located approximately at 30 meters in the east of library MAMMA HAIDARA, the library Fondo Kati which opened its doors in September 2003, is also an example of tripartite co-operation between Spain, Mali and its promoter Ismail Diadié HAIDARA. In the origin, this library was localised in Tolédo, then in Grenade and Seville, from where would have left the first holders this cultural funds. This library with dominant Andalusian feature is on the one hand, the concretization of the relations of several secular between Timbuktu and Andalusia and on the other hand, the proof of the existence of vestiges of an architectural heritage and considerable writing between the two areas. This library counts 7026 manuscripts and its physical structure remains one of best representative of the architecture of Timbuktu.

15 IHERI-Ahmed Baba

Known in the past as Center Ahmed Baba, this public site of documentation and research is charged to collect and exploit the African manuscripts for a rewriting of the African history. From its creation date in 1973, with the support of UNESCO, to these days, the Center was able to collect 20000 manuscripts treating of social and exact sciences. It was recently transformed into an Institute of High Islamic Studies and Research, known under the French initials (IHERI).

16 Moroccan Kasbah

The Moroccan Kasbah symbolizes the fortress built by Djouder neighbouring Saney Goungou, to shelter the Pashas. According to Es Sâdi, author of “Tarikh es-Sudan”, this Kasbah was surrounded of an enclosure having two entries: the door of Kabara and the door of the market.

17. Alfarouk (logo of Tombouctou 2006)

 Alfarouk is this legendary character introduced in the shape of a man all-dressed in white, wearing a man’s veil, riding also a white horse. According to the oral tradition, Alfarouk, following its misconduct with regard to the honourable scholars of Sankoré, would be in detention beneath water of Bani in Djenné, for 7 centuries.

18. House of Essayouti

The House of Es Sayouti is one of the cultural jewels of the old city of Timbuktu. Located in the district of Djingareiber, made of Soudanese-Magrheban joint style, it offers the architectural characteristics of a traditional residence. Its builder, Sidi Mohamed Al-Imam Ben Essayouti, lived between 1861 and 1923. He occupied several functions on the levels of his birthplace and of the Sub Region.

19 House of the craftsmen

Located at the small market known as Yoboutawo Market, the house of the craftsmen gathers the socio-professional categories of the craftsmen of Timbuktu. It was carried out thanks to a financing of Canada. It is a point of meeting of the various trade associations and a high place where visitors of Timbuktu can supply themselves in memories.

20 The Monument of Peace

Located in the district of Abaradjou, this monument which marks the end of the rebellion in Northern part of Mali, was designed following the ceremony of “Flame of Peace” organized with Timbuktu, on March 27, 1996. It includes three parts which are the walls of the history; a wood-shed which symbolizes the flame which made possible the extinction of fire [of weapons]; and a silhouette of four people holding the torch, so that reign peace in Africa and in the World.

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