Ait Ben Haddou

Aït Ben Haddou is Morocco’s most dramatic and celebrated example of southern earthen architecture — a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and one of the most filmed locations on earth. This ancient fortified village (ksar) rises in tiers of reddish-brown mud brick towers above the dry bed of the Ounila River, backed by ochre mountains and an infinite blue sky. Built by Berber communities along the ancient caravan route connecting the Sahara to Marrakech, Aït Ben Haddou dates to at least the 11th century, though most of its current structures were built between the 17th and 19th centuries. The ksar’s characteristic pisé (rammed earth) and mud-brick towers — decorated with geometric Berber patterns in relief — are the finest examples of the Draa-Tafilalet architectural tradition, a style that produced the extraordinary string of kasbahs known as the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs.” Hollywood discovered Aït Ben Haddou in the 1960s and has never left. The ksar has served as the backdrop for some of cinema’s most iconic scenes: Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and Black Hawk Down; David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia; Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ; and as Yunkai and Pentos in HBO’s Game of Thrones. Walking its streets is simultaneously a history lesson, an architectural wonder, and a movie set tour. The ksar is still partially inhabited by several Berber families who maintain traditional crafts: pottery, woven baskets, silver jewelry, and hand-painted ceramic tiles. Their workshops are open to visitors, and purchasing directly from artisans supports the living heritage of the site. Top experiences: Sunrise and sunset photography (light turns the mud walls extraordinary colors) | Exploring the towers and granaries | Berber artisan workshops | Crossing the river on stepping stones | Views from the hilltop agadir (granary fortress). Location: 30km northeast of Ouarzazate | Best visited: Year-round | Combined with: Ouarzazate, Draa Valley, Merzouga desert circuit.