The Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou

The Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou is located in the province of Ouarzazate. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
During the French Protectorate, it was nicknamed "the Mont-Saint-Michel of the Chleuh people."
The kasbah is situated 30 km from Ouarzazate, in the Ounila Valley, south of Telouet, former stronghold of the Glaoui family a valley that was once a traditional route for caravans linking Marrakech to the southern Sahara.
It is a striking example of traditional southern Moroccan architecture, built on the side of a hill topped by a communal granary.
The village consists of a group of earthen buildings surrounded by walls.
The kasbah is a type of traditional pre-Saharan habitat.
The houses are clustered within its defensive walls, which are reinforced with corner towers.
Some of the dwellings look like small castles, with tall towers adorned with decorative patterns in adobe brick.
The oldest buildings are believed to date back to the 17th century.
The site was likely one of many trading posts along the commercial route connecting sub-Saharan Africa to Marrakech.
At the foot of the hill runs the Oued Maleh, whose name means “salty river.”
The inhabitants of these hamlets are mostly Berbers, formerly nomadic, who settled here for various reasons.

Several films have been shot there, including:

- Lawrence of Arabia
- Jesus of Nazareth
- The Mummy
- Gladiator
- Game of Thrones