The Atiq Mosque is the oldest mosque in the Sahara and one of the oldest in North Africa, dated to roughly the twelfth century, though local tradition places it much earlier. Its strangest feature is the roof: a forest of small, conical white domes — over twenty of them — that look more like a clutch of pointed mushrooms than a place of worship. The domes are made from local soil mixed with lime and palm-wood beams, an organic architecture that has more in common with the medieval mud cities of Mali than with anything built on the Mediterranean coast.
Inside, the prayer hall is cool and dim, its low arches resting on stocky pillars. Each conical dome covers a single bay and acts as a chimney, drawing hot air up and out while the thick walls insulate against the desert sun. The mosque still functions as the village's main place of prayer. Non-Muslim visitors are usually welcome to walk around the exterior; entry to the interior depends on the imam and on whether prayers are in session. Dress conservatively and ask before stepping inside.