Considered the gateway to the desert and at the crossroads of the former caravan trade, the historic city of Agadez dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries when it became the settlement of the Sultanate of Air. Situated at the extreme south of the Air massif, between the Sahara and the Sahel, the historic center is divided into eleven irregularly shaped quarters. It is composed of many earthen dwellings and a well-preserved religious ensemble.
The Palace of the Sultan of Air, which is the residence of the sultan of the city, and the Agadez Mosque are among the most notable monuments of the historic center. Constructed using a clay called ‘banco’ in 1515, the mosque’s minaret that culminates at 27-meter high is the world’s tallest ever made entirely of mudbrick. The mosque is the highest building in the city. Both monuments and most of the buildings in the old town are characterized by raw earth architecture and a decorative style specific to the Air region.
The Historic Center of Agadez has been very well-conserved and reflects the great talent of the inhabitants. The old city is able to tell a story showing the unique place it once held as a great trans-Saharan cultural exchange center, a major caravan trade stop, and a remarkable architectural accomplishment showing an impressive dexterity in the use of raw earth.
Nowadays, the historic center of Agadez has conserved its importance. The traditional system of the sultanate is still in place, guaranteeing social unity and economic prosperity. The ancestral, cultural, and ancient know-how of the region is still practiced.
