The most filmed ksar in Morocco — Gladiator, Game of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia
Aït Benhaddou is a fortified earthen village (ksar) rising on a hillside above the Ounila River, 30km from Ouarzazate on the road to Marrakech. It is UNESCO-listed and the most famous of Morocco's kasbahs — a World Heritage Site inhabited by a handful of Berber families who still live in the lower part of the ksar while the restored upper section draws a constant stream of visitors and film crews. The entire ksar is built from pisé (rammed earth) and mud brick in the traditional Berber-Moroccan style: layers of fortified towers, communal granaries, ceremonial gateposts, and passageways carved…
Aït Benhaddou was an important stopping point on the trans-Saharan caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech, trading in gold, salt, and spices. Its defensive architecture — high walls, towers, and granaries built on the hilltop — reflects centuries of raiding and inter-tribal conflict. The ksar fell into disuse in the 20th century as residents moved to a more convenient modern village across the river, but gained a new life from the 1960s when international film productions discovered its otherworldly appearance. Over 30 major films and TV series have been shot here, including Lawrence…