The Ancient ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata are trading and religious centres along the ancient Sahara trade routes.

These four towns date from the 13th and 14th century.

Chinguetti was a principal gathering place for pilgrims of the Maghrib to gather on the way to Mecca. It became known as a holy city in its own right, especially for pilgrims unable to make the long journey to the Arab Peninsula.

Although largely abandoned to the desert, the city features a series of medieval manuscript libraries without peer in West Africa.