Founded in the 14th century, Beni Isguen, meaning “the sons of those who keep the faith,” is a Berber town in the oasis of Mʾzab, Algeria. Due to the strict religious and social ideals of the town, strangers are not allowed in the town in most hours of the day. Nevertheless, Strangers may not still be able to enter without the help of a resident in the permitted houres. Some parts of the town are also completely forbidden to the nonresidents. There is even a watchtower, called Tour du Tafilet, to make sure people comply with these prohibitions. Moreover, the resitents of the town prefer not to leave the oasis in order to preserve their purity.
Beni Isguen is such a conservative town that non-residents cannot enter without a guide, and the residents do not leave the oasis to preserve their moral ideals.
Beni Isguen is one of the five towns or ksours in the Mʾzab valley, the others being El Atteuf, Bou Noura, Melika and Ghardaïa. Each ksour has a mosque designed like a fortress, dominating the town. Considered the best preserved urban district in the region, Beni Isguen has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982.
