Introducing Djenné
One of the premier sites in West Africa, World Heritage–listed Djenné, which sits on an island in the Bani River, is worth as much time as you can give it. Its incomparable mosque – the largest mud-built structure in the world – is like a fairytale apparition. It provides Djenné with a backdrop to its huge, lively and colourful Monday market that has barely changed since the days when Saharan camel caravans brought salt across the sands to the gates of Djenné.
On a stroll through the dusty streets you’ll pass a few madrassas (schools where young children learn the Qur’an); there are more madrassas in Djenné than in any other town in Mali, which serves as a reminder of its days as a renowned centre of Islamic scholarship. With the help of a guide, you can also see the beautiful house of the traditional chief.
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Young boy with donkey cart in front of the Grande Mosque du Djenne.
- Matthew Schoenfelder
- Lonely Planet photographer
