Morocco - Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou

Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou (1987)
Morocco

Back to indexThe ksar, a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls, is a traditional pre-Saharan habitat. The houses crowd together within the defensive walls, which are reinforced by corner towers.

Morocco 2002. Allegory of Moroccan World Heritage.

French Morocco 1934. Typical fortified city of the Ouarzazate Province.

Ait-Ben-Haddou, in Ouarzazate province, is a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco.

Morocco 2002. Allegory of Moroccan World Heritage. The stamp shows the Atlantic coastline of Morocco with a Portuguese building of Mazagan (El Jadida) on the left and an imaginary fortified city of the Deep South on the right.
French Morocco 1934. Typical fortified city of the Ouarzazate Province.

Aït Ben-Haddou is a fortified city [ksar] along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. Several films have been shot there, including

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
The Jewel of the Nile (1985)
Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
Gladiator (2000)
Alexander (2004)

Sources and links:

Jean Hureau: Le Maroc Aujourd'hui, Ed. Jeune Afrique, France 1969. No ISBN indicated.

Wikipedia - Ksar Ait-Ben-Haddou

Other World Heritage Sites in Morocco (on this web site). Please refer to the UNESCO-listing, Morocco section, for further information about the individual properties.

Back to index