Qasr Nalut

About this place

Qasr Nalut is an old fortified granary in the town of Nalut, at the western end of the Nafusa Mountains in north-western Libya. It is a communal building where local families stored their grain and oil in times of danger. It has been abandoned and is now a tourist destination, and its tightly packed stone walls give it a look unlike any other building. Nalut lies roughly halfway between Tripoli and Ghadames, about 60 km from the Tunisian border, and played an important part in the caravan trade. Its name may derive from Tala, a Berber goddess of springs, according to one account. The town is also home to the Alal'a Mosque, its oldest, rebuilt in 1312. You walk a narrow lane between high walls lined with small rooms behind layered wooden doors, with old wooden beams beneath the walls. Nearby are an old olive press and abandoned houses with stone arches. From the edge you see the broad plain below the mountain, and the finest light comes at sunset. It sits at the heart of Nalut and is easy to reach by car. Do not climb the walls, as some are fragile. Bring comfortable shoes and water. Spring is the finest time, when the land around it turns green. Sources say foreigners need a tour operator or local sponsor to visit Libya. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to this area, so check official guidance before making any plans.