In Diourbel, the archaeological burial mounds of Cekeen sit alongside historical sites in the department. Touba and Darou Salam broaden the perspective on the wider Diourbel destination, with religious sites and traditions. These different cultural highlights can help guide your choice of holiday rental.

The Tumuli of Cekeen

Les tumulus de Cekeen includes the approximately 12-metre-high Tumulus Wago Fal and a group of 56 burial mounds. The tumuli are made of sand. Cekeen is therefore notable both for a named mound with an approximate height and for a group of numerous burial mounds. These two scales describe different aspects of the same site: Wago Fal can be considered as an individual example, while the number 56 describes the group. Those interested in archaeological forms will find a different focus here from that of the historic buildings listed in the Diourbel department.

Historical Sites in the Diourbel Department

The Grande mosquée de Kér gu Mag is one of the historical sites in the Diourbel department and is listed in the 2024 cultural heritage inventory. Mbanaar de Ndayane is also one of the department’s historical sites. This site includes a Serer tumulus as well as remains. The post office buildings in Diourbel and the Gare ferroviaire de Diourbel are among the department’s historical sites and monuments.

Together, these places showcase different aspects of the cultural heritage: religious architecture, burial mounds and remains, as well as buildings from the urban and infrastructure sectors. This broadens Cekeen’s archaeological focus to include other historical categories. If you are looking for cultural themes for your trip, you can take these differences into account when choosing the right destination, rather than treating all the sites as similar attractions.

In the wider Diourbel destination: Touba and Darou Salam

Touba offers further distinctive cultural sites within the wider Diourbel destination. Aïnou Rahmati, often called the “Well of Mercy,” is a well in the northern part of Touba, behind the house of Serigne Saliou Mbacké. It is listed in Senegal’s national inventory of sites and monuments. The Great Mosque of Touba has five tall minarets: one main minaret, two on the west side and two on the east side. The number five can thus be directly linked to the arrangement of the minarets. Daaray Kamil houses both a library dedicated to the Holy Book of Islam and the mausoleum of Serigne Abdou Lahat Mbacké.

The Magal de Touba is held every year in the holy city of Touba and welcomes millions of believers and supporters of the Mouride brotherhood. It is included on the national list of intangible cultural heritage and is associated with the Diourbel region. The Magal commemorates Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba’s departure into exile. If you would like to include a Magal in your travel plans, check the date in advance.

Darou Salam is also part of the cultural theme of the wider Diourbel destination. It is considered the first city founded by Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba in the 1880s. The mausoleum of Mame Cheikh Anta Mbacké (1865–1941), also known as “Borom Gawane,” a loyal companion of the founder of Mouridism, is located there. The Magal of Darou Salam commemorates the meeting between Cheikh Anta Mbacké and his brother Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba Mbacké (1853–1927), when the latter returned from exile in Gabon. Touba and Darou Salam thus offer cultural themes different from the tumuli and historical sites of the department.

Discover more destinations: Diourbel

Back to the wider travel overview: Diourbel.