Cromlech de Mzoura

Updated April 16, 2024

Les 10 sites archéologiques les plus importants du Maroc

# Cromlech de Mzoura (Msoura): What to Know Before You Go

Cromlech de Mzoura—also commonly spelled Msoura / M’zora / Mzoura—is a rare megalithic stone circle in northern Morocco, near Larache. The site sits at approximately 35.4041, -5.9439 and is described as 167 monoliths arranged around a central tumulus (burial mound).

If you’re building a Northern Morocco itinerary that’s heavier on archaeology than shopping streets, Mzoura is the kind of stop that changes the tone of a trip: quiet countryside, big stones, and a long timeline.

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## Where it is and what you’ll see on the ground

Mzoura is located near Chouahed village, about 15 km southeast of Asilah, in the wider Tangier–Tétouan–Al Hoceïma region. The core elements are:

– A ring of 167 standing stones (monoliths/menhirs).
– A central mound described as roughly 58 m long, 54 m wide, and about 6 m high.
– One standout monolith known as El Uted (“the peg”), reported as more than 5 m tall.

Expect an uneven, outdoor archaeological site—more “walk among stones” than “visitor center.”

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## A short history that’s actually useful while you’re there

Mzoura’s story has two layers: what archaeology can responsibly say, and what local/ancient storytelling adds.

### What’s broadly supported in summaries
Mzoura is widely described as a burial monument (stone ring + mound), and multiple summaries date it roughly to the 4th or 3rd century BC based on findings reported from past work on the mound. This period matters because it overlaps with the emergence of political formations in northwest North Africa often discussed under the umbrella of the Kingdom of Mauretania.

### The legend you’ll hear attached to it
A long-running legend ties the mound to Antaeus (a figure from Greek mythology), sometimes framed as “his tomb.” You don’t need to “believe” it to enjoy what it does: it signals that the place has been culturally meaningful for a very long time.

### Why the mound looks the way it does
Mzoura was excavated in the 1930s by the Spanish archaeologist César Luis de Montalban, and later work followed in the 1950s; modern summaries note that earlier excavation damaged the site and left a visible scar on the mound.

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## Planning your visit

### Getting there
Public, authoritative directions are limited in the sources above, but what is consistent is that Mzoura is rural and commonly visited as a side trip from Asilah / Larache / Tangier due to its location in northern Morocco.

Practical way to navigate without guesswork:
– Use the coordinates (35.4041263, -5.9439424) rather than relying on a street address, since rural mapping and spellings vary.
– Aim to approach from Asilah (since the site is described as ~15 km southeast of it).

### Entry and on-site logistics (what may change)
Visitor reports online sometimes mention a gate/guard and/or informal payment expectations. Because that’s not an official ticketing statement and can change quickly, treat it as possible, not guaranteed.

Outdated-data flag: some road-condition notes circulating online are explicitly timestamped (e.g., “as of 2019”). Don’t assume they still hold—check current map conditions and local guidance close to your visit.

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## What to look for (so the stones don’t blur together)

Even without signage, a few details give structure to your walk:

– The ellipse/ring shape: step back and try to trace the circle/ellipse with your eyes; it’s easier to understand the scale that way.
– El Uted: it’s the “anchor” stone—taller than the rest, and the one most photos revolve around.
– The mound itself: note that the central tumulus is part of what makes Mzoura different from a simple “standing stone field.”

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## Responsible visiting and inclusivity notes

Mzoura is a cultural heritage site, and in 2025 Moroccan outlets reported it was officially added to Morocco’s national heritage list via a ministerial decision dated 27 January 2025. chamaly.ma That status is a good reminder to treat the stones and mound as fragile heritage, not climbable “props.”

Accessibility reality check:
– The terrain is natural and uneven; plan accordingly if anyone in your group has mobility limitations (supportive footwear, pacing, and conservative expectations).

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## A quick myth-busting note: UNESCO vs national heritage
Mzoura is important, but it’s easy to see it incorrectly described as a UNESCO World Heritage Site online. UNESCO’s official list of Morocco World Heritage properties does not include Mzoura. World Heritage Centre

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## Nearby context to make the trip feel “complete”
Mzoura is often framed as part of the archaeological landscape of the Larache area—where broader discussions of “from Lixus to Mzoura” show up in Moroccan reporting. نيوز – Larachenews If you’re sequencing stops, it can make sense to pair a countryside megalithic monument with a more “interpreted” archaeological site visit (museum/ruins) the same day.

Internal link edits (add if your site has them):
– Larache guide: (internal link: /larache/)
– Asilah guide or day trip: (internal link: /asilah/)

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## Fast facts (verified from sources)

– Name variants: Msoura / Mzoura / M’Zora (multiple spellings in use).
– Coordinates: ~35.4042°N, 5.9439°W.
– Layout: 167 monoliths around a tumulus.
– National heritage listing (reported): ministerial decision dated 27 Jan 2025 reported by Moroccan outlets. chamaly.ma

If you want, paste two internal URLs you know exist on RealJourneyTravels.com (your Larache + Asilah pages, for example) and I’ll weave them into the article cleanly without placeholders.

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