The ancient city of Timbuktu is in Mali.
Timbuktu stands near the southern edge of the Sahara, in the region where desert routes meet the Niger River’s seasonal floodplain. Its position made it a valuable stopping point for trans-Saharan trade, especially during the medieval period.
The city became associated with the Mali Empire and later the Songhai Empire. Merchants traded commodities including gold and salt, while scholars gathered around mosques and private libraries. Timbuktu’s reputation as a centre of Islamic learning grew through institutions and manuscript traditions linked to places such as Sankore.
The city’s best-known historic buildings include the Djinguereber Mosque, built in the fourteenth century, and the Sidi Yahya Mosque. Timbuktu’s historic centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The name is sometimes used metaphorically for a remote place, but the real city is a specific historic settlement in Mali.