This picture of a hilltop village on the southern flank of the Sous Valley gives clues to the turbulent past of Morocco. The houses on the hilltop are dominated by a fortified granary, what's called an "Agadir". Buildings of this function can be found all over Morocco (particularly in the south) and some, although not many, are still being used to this day. The purpose of an Agadir was to provide a safe place for villagers to store their grain in times of conflict. In more recent times the function of a protected building of this nature would normally have become more general..... as a safe place to store anything of value that wasn't perceived to be safe to leave at home. One such agadir that is still in operation in the Jebel Sirwa (to the north of Taliouine) gives us an insight into how it all worked. The interior of the building, which is always set in a lofty position, is often built around a central courtyard where steps (or a ladder) takes you up to a series of compartments built into the fabric of the building. Each villager is allocated a compartment where they can lock a door and keep their valuables safe. The entire building is watched over by a custodian that receives a fee for his troubles. The Taroudant region, particularly to the south into the Anti-Atlas Mountains, is home to some of the best preserved agadirs and kasbahs in Southern Morocco. Here they tend to be built of stone (as the area is rocky) whereas in the Ouarzazate/Draa Valley region buildings are more commonly built from earth (adobe or pisé). The beautiful example pictured lies in the low foothills of the Anti-Atlas between Taroudant and Ighrem. From here southwards stretches one of the most extensive and picturesque ranges of mountains in Morocco. The Anti-Atlas is a more southerly, parallel, range to the High Atlas, stretching from the Draa Valley to the Atlantic Ocean around the town of Tiznit. For adventure sports it's one of the focal points of Morocco, and the stunningly-situated town of Tafraoute is a great place to be based to explore the area, which boasts excellent hiking and mountain biking. The Ait Mansour Gorge is a regional highlight; a sublime palm oasis where water appears from nowhere in an otherwise arid environment. "Les Roches Bleues", just outside Tafraoute demonstrate a Belgian artist's take on "landscape art" and have become a popular spot for camping and rock climbing (bouldering). Elsewhere in the environs of Tafraoute there are some great hiking possibilities starting from the stunning Ameln Valley, including the ascent of Jebel Kest, the highest mountain in the region. Tafraoute has a sprinkling of hotels and the town comes to life each February for the traditional Almond Blossom Festival.