Djenné

Few places in Mali, if not all of north-west Africa, are as impressive as Djenné's historic city. It is known for its distinctive mud-brick architecture and long history as a stop on the old caravan routes across the Sahel and Sahara, and is crowned in the center by the adobe rises of one fascinating Great Mosque. The town boomed during the 15th and 16th centuries, thanks to the passage of minerals and precious metals (and, of course, slaves).

The town is known for its distinctive adobe architecture, most notably the Great Mosque, a revered religious center that was built on the site of an earlier mosque in 1907. archaeological excavations at Djenné-Djenno have revealed the town to be one of the oldest in the entire Niger basin. To the south of town is Djenné-Djeno, the site of one of Sub-Saharan Africa's oldest known towns. UNESCO designated Djenné and Djenné-Djeno as World Heritage Sites in 1988. As a result, it is included on the list of Mali tourist attractions.

• Location: Inland Niger Delta region, Mali