Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The truth is out there—somewhere.
The Truth Is Out There at the Dreamland Resort (or Should We Say ‘Area 51?’)
18 days ago
Edward Payson Weston
How the 6-Day Race Became an American Spectator Obsession
19 days ago
Alresford Spy Toilet
This Public Bathroom in a Sleepy English Village Was an Epicenter for Cold War Espionage
22 days ago
Manhattan Well
The Manhattan Well: How Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton United to Solve a Murder Mystery
22 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Mauritania Monument to the Battle of Oum Tounsi
AO Edited

Monument to the Battle of Oum Tounsi

Initially meant to immortalize the valor of the colonizer, this monument is now a symbol of Mauritanian resistance.

Mauritania

Added By
Max Cortesi
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Monument to the Battle of Oum Tounsi   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Monument to the Battle of Oum Tounsi   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
View of the monument from the N1 Road   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Nearby well   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The earliest documented contact between Mauritanian and European merchants dates back to 1442, but sporadic trading certainly predates the 15th century. The year 1442 marks the moment when the Portuguese established the first permanent presence in the territory that later became Mauritania. Although this establishment had more to do with trade than with political control, its ramifications run through the rest of Mauritanian history. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, the Spanish, Dutch, and British also established some form of trading posts in Mauritania, but it was the French that eventually claimed sovereignty over this land.

In 1840, after years of trade and political alliances, France issued a decree that claimed possession of Senegal. Most of the territory identified as Senegal, however, was located in modern-day Mauritania. The part of modern-day Mauritania that France was not able to claim was the inland regions of the country. These regions were barren and plagued by the harshest weather conditions imaginable. Inevitably, only the sturdiest and most resilient people called this land home. Among these were the emirates of Trarza and Brakna united against their common enemy: France. After years of local skirmishes and full-fledged battles, the parties finally signed a treaty in which the two emirates became French protectorates. This situation persisted up to the beginning of the 20th century, when France declared ownership over all of Mauritania, now considered a political entity separate from Senegal. 

Despite efforts to pacify the inland regions, animosity persisted against the French. Among the episodes that punctuated this volatile situation, the Battle of Oum Tounsi (aka Umm-Tunisi) stands out. It was 1932, and Lieutenant Patrick de Mac Mahon was the head of a French contingent made up of French, Senegalese, and Mauritanian soldiers. Mounted on camels, they were coming from Samara, about 1,500 kilometers to the north. To travel across the desert for so long, the contingent had to do as ancient merchants did, and rely on natural springs and wells. One of these wells was in Oum Tounsi, a nondescript location about 80 kilometers north of Nouakchott.

It was in Oum Tounsi that the contingent was ambushed by 120 Oulad Delim men armed with French and Spanish rifles. The battle was fierce and by the end, the land was strewn with corpses. Thirty-seven men from the French contingent died, including Lieutenant Mac Mahon. The Oulad Delim forces also lost 25 men, but managed to capture the weapons and camels from the French. Subsequently, the French authorities decided to erect a mausoleum to honor Lieutenant Mac Mahon. However, what was meant to immortalize the valor of the French colonizers, was quickly reclaimed to stand as a symbol of Mauritanian resistance against the French colonizers. Reflecting this, today the mausoleum is better known as the Monument to the Battle of Oum Tounsi.

The design of this relatively small structure (about four meters tall) is dominated by Arabic architectural elements, perhaps to acknowledge the number of local soldiers who lost their lives here. If there were inscriptions on the stones at the center, they are no longer discernible due to unsightly graffiti and overexposure to the elements. Not far from the monument is the well that Lieutenant Mac Mahon and his contingent probably used on the fatal day. 

Related Tags

Wells Deserts Colonialism Revolution Monuments History

Know Before You Go

The Monument to the Battle of Oum Tounsi can be seen from the main road (N1) that connects Nouakchott to Atar. There is no pathway to lead to the monument, but it is only 500 meters from the road. If you can resist exploring the sand dunes beyond the monument, it is almost impossible to get lost. There are no shops or gas stations anywhere near this site.  Expect scorching temperatures, but also be aware that nights can be surprisingly cold, depending on the season.

Community Contributors

Added By

Max Cortesi

Published

March 7, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Monument to the Battle of Oum Tounsi
Mauritania
18.696772, -15.623241

Nearby Places

Camel Market

Beila, Mauritania

miles away

Galerie Zeinart

Nouakchott, Mauritania

miles away

Port de Pêche

Nouakchott, Mauritania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mauritania

Mauritania

Africa

Places 10
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Camel Market

Beila, Mauritania

miles away

Galerie Zeinart

Nouakchott, Mauritania

miles away

Port de Pêche

Nouakchott, Mauritania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mauritania

Mauritania

Africa

Places 10
Stories 2

Related Stories and Lists

22 Unusual Things You Can Find in the Desert

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Only remnant of the El Polvorin complex

    San Juan, Philippines

    El Polvorin

    An attack on this gunpowder depot led to the start of the Philippine Revolution.

  • Hand of Timba

    Bissau, Guinea-Bissau

    Hand of Timba

    This monument memorializes a violent massacre where colonial police killed 50 striking dockworkers.

  • Halle (Saale), Germany

    Anton Wilhelm Amo Monument

    The monument honors the first (and for a long time, only) African-born philosopher to teach at a German university.

  • The “Hijo del árbol de la Noche Triste” with its statue of Hernan Cortes.

    Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico

    Son of the Tree of the Night of Sorrows

    A sapling of the legendary tree where conquistador Hernán Cortés sat and wept after an Aztec uprising.

  • Monument to the Indigenous People

    Santiago, Chile

    Monument to the Indigenous People

    This sculpture meant to honor the bravery of the Indigenous Mapuche people of Chile proved controversial.

  • The Verendrye Monument.

    Fort Pierre, South Dakota

    Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye Monument

    A monument to the forgotten French explorers and their landmark expedition.

  • El Morro From Inscription Trail

    Ramah, New Mexico

    Inscription Rock at El Morro

    Some 2,000 carvings show this rare desert spring has been an oasis for travelers for over a thousand years.

  • The Hunter House.

    Newport, Rhode Island

    Hunter House

    The first newspaper printed by an expeditionary force was published in this colonial mansion.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.