For a cultural trip to Bani Kheddache, two distinct highlights stand out: the mountain ksar, dated to 1728, in the heart of the town, and the Gharbouz Festival, dedicated to the local heritage of making Gharbouz from dried figs. The list of classified monuments also includes two other ksour under Beni Khedache. This lets you shape your trip around the architecture, the monuments, or the festival theme.

The mountain ksar in the heart of the town

Ksar Beni Kheddache dates back to 1728 and stands in the heart of the town of Beni Kheddache, on a hill 514 metres high. This pairs a precise year with an equally specific location. If you are looking for a historical focus for your trip, the mountain ksar offers a clearly identified landmark for learning about the area. Its name and date also make it easy to distinguish from the two other ksour listed under Beni Khedache in the register of monuments.

Two more names in the register of monuments

Ksar El Krikriya and Ksar Ouled Mehdi appear in the list of classified monuments under Beni Khedache, dated 22 January 2024. This date refers to their listing, while 1728 is the year associated with the mountain ksar, Ksar Beni Kheddache. These are two distinct time references for cultural orientation: a year associated with the monument and the date of the two entries. This helps distinguish the three names and their respective details, rather than mistaking the listing date for a construction or event date.

Gharbouz as a distinct cultural highlight

The Gharbouz Festival offers a different focus from the monuments. Founded in 2018, it is dedicated to the local heritage of making Gharbouz from dried figs. Rather than focusing on a single site, it centres on a local production tradition. This may be a separate reason to choose the destination: you can decide whether to associate Bani Kheddache primarily with its historic ksar heritage or with the festival’s Gharbouz theme.

The seventh festival edition in October 2024

The seventh edition took place in Beni Kheddache from 28 to 31 October 2024. A carnival paraded through the streets of Beni Kheddache during the event, with several folklore groups taking part, including Taïfa G'benten and Ghougou Médenine. The programme also announced a performance of the epic “Kaf Hassan” at Ksar Beni Kheddache.

When planning your trip, it is important to distinguish between the architectural highlights and the event dates. The historical dates for the seventh edition refer to October 2024 and do not indicate a future date. If you are planning independently of the festival, you can use the mountain ksar and the classified monuments as cultural reference points when choosing your destination.

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