Aït Benhaddou is a fortified city in Morocco that is located along the old caravan route between Marrakech and the Sahara Desert. This UNESCO World Heritage site served as an important trading post in the old trade route that passed all the way from Morocco on the west coast of Africa, to Sudan on the east coast.
Aït Benhaddou
As most villages are, and especially in the more arid environments, Aït Benhaddou (or Aït Ben Haddou) was built along the Asif Ounila river at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. The city is known as a ksar, which is a tightly constructed group of earthen buildings located within a city wall. This ksar contains over 50 individual households, six kasbahs, a mosque, a public square, and two cemeteries. A kasbah (or casbah) is a citadel, or fortress where the local leaders would live. The kasbah kept the leaders safe in case the city was ever under attack. Having six kasbahs speaks to the historical importance of the city.
The oldest standing structure still inside Aït Benhaddou dates to the 17th century. Though most of the inhabitants of the city have moved to the southern side of the river to live in more modern structures, there are still four families living within the old city walls.
If this city looks familiar, it just may be because you have seen it before. This earthen city has been featured in countless movies and TV, the most recent being Prince of Persia, Kingdom of Heaven, and HBO’s Game of Thrones.
A City made of Earthen Clay
Aït Benhaddou is a prime example of the traditional architectural style of southern Morocco. The technique for constructing these clay dwellings has been around for hundreds of years. Each historical town in the southern regions of the country were made in this traditional manner. Each town is the same color as its local clay. This type of architecture actually stands up quite well for the dry and arid environment that it’s in.
Where is it Located?
Aït Benhaddou is located just north of the P1506 road in the Ouarzazate province which is about a 3 ½ to 4 hour drive from Marrakech. The old settlement is just north of the Asif Ounila river.