Ait Ben Haddou

Aït Benhaddou

Aït Ben Haddou is a ksar (fortified city) in southern Morocco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located at the crossroads of the southern oases, 29 kilometers northwest of Ouarzazate. It is a stunning example of the architecture of Southern Morocco. Here the buildings on the hill are surrounded by high city walls. The red towers, made of a mixture of straw and earth, resemble a slightly crumbled sand castle. The almond trees surrounding the area give it a touch of splendor, and there is a beautiful river valley nearby.

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General Information

Among the spectacular scenery of the snow-white Atlas Mountains, which stretch all the way to the Sahara Desert, stretches a completely unprecedented land with large canyons, gorges and lunar craters, not without reason the province of Quarzazate has become a favorite place for filmmakers, a kind of Moroccan Hollywood. Films such as “Sodom and Gomorrah”, “Lawrence of Arabia”, “The Last Temptation of Christ” and “Gladiator” were shot here.”

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All dwellings in Ait Ben Haddou are built of red-brown clay. The flat-roofed houses are terraced on the hillside, with streets running horizontally and connected by arches and narrow passageways. There are four entrances to the ksar, two free entrances (extreme left and extreme right) and two paid entrances. The free entrances lead through a gate in the wall, while the paid entrances pass through dwellings and are owned by two families; one of the entrances houses a museum.

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Friendly vendors will come out to meet you and keep you occupied with conversation. The town is famous for the crafts and skills of local artisans, including the making of traditional carpets and pottery.