Aït Benhaddou is an 11th century ksar (fortified village) in the Ouarzazate province that strikes with its historic architecture. The village is an amazing evidence of the ancient architecture in the South of Morocco. That’s because the ksar was built with very old techniques where the rammed earth, clay bricks, and wood were being used as main construction materials.
The ksar of Aït Benhaddou was a strategic site in the Ounila Valley along the caravan route between Marrakech and the Sahara for a long time. The fortified village has enjoyed a high prosperity at those times until the trade expeditions stopped. Aït Benhaddou became again well know in the French colonial because of its unique appeal.
Having an important architectural value for Morocco and for the entire world, Aït Benhaddou has been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. That increased the popularity of the ksar among tourists, and not only that. Aït Benhaddou was the shooting location for many famous movies and series such as Jesus of Nazareth, The Mummy, Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Thus, Aït Benhaddo became the Hollywood of Morocco together with Ouarzazate and the interest in visiting this attraction increased significantly. Beside the fortified village that’s a wonderful attraction per se, you’ll also find in Aït Benhaddou a mosque, a kasbah, and a caravanserai which will take you many centuries ago.
