KSAR OF AÏT BEN HADDOU

Listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1987, the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou is one of the best preserved ksour of the Ounila valley. It has been the subject of numerous restoration works. The ksar, a style of traditional pre-Saharan habitat, is built on the left bank of the valley of Mellah, on a hillside. Its exceptional location has made it the main location for the shooting of films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth or Gladiator. This fortified village with collective dwellings has two main entrances: one on the east and the other on the west. Count on at least two hours of visit to walk the narrow streets and enjoy the site, remember to take a bottle of water with you. Within the ramparts, houses of one or two floors and tighermin of three to four floors. To visit the ksar, you do not necessarily need a guide. On the other hand, do not hesitate to ask for information to the inhabitants of the village, for a few dirhams of course; some of them will show you their houses. Each door, each interior courtyard conceals its architectural treasure, and the terraces on top of the buildings offer superb views of the village and the wadi below. The mosque, made of earth, like the rest of the village, no longer has a minaret because of the rain. The ksar of Aït Ben Haddou is very frequented by tourists, and also by souvenir sellers, that's why it is recommended to go there at off-peak hours (early morning, late evening).