Ouarzazate, nicknamed 'the gateway to the desert', is the crossroads of all routes towards the Moroccan Sahara. A city of majestic kasbahs and world-famous film studios, it fascinates as much for its millennial Berber heritage as for its role in the greatest Hollywood films.
The Taourirt Kasbah, jewel of the Glaoui
The Taourirt Kasbah is Ouarzazate's flagship monument. Former residence of the Glaoui, the Berber caïds who dominated southern Morocco in the early 20th century, this pisé kasbah presents sumptuous architecture with its crenellated towers, zellige-decorated patios and apartments with painted ceilings. UNESCO has contributed to its partial restoration.
The adjacent inhabited quarter, where families still live in traditional earthen houses, allows you to observe daily life in an authentic kasbah. Craftsmen have their workshops there — Berber carpets, pottery, silver jewellery — and sales are at fixed prices without bargaining, a practice appreciated by travellers in a hurry.
Ouarzazate's film studios
Ouarzazate is often nicknamed 'Hollywood of Africa' or 'Ouallywood'. The Atlas Studios and CLA Studios are among the largest film studios in Africa. Permanent sets, such as the Roman city used for Gladiator or the sets of other productions, can be visited on guided tours.
Among the hundreds of films shot in Ouarzazate or its surroundings: Lawrence of Arabia, Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, The Mummy, Kingdom of Heaven, Prince of Persia, Game of Thrones, as well as French series and international productions. The local cinema museum traces this remarkable cinematographic history with costumes, sets and filming photos.
Lake Ouarzazate and the surroundings
The artificial lake of Ouarzazate, created by the El Mansour Eddahbi dam, is an unexpected haven of peace in the middle of the desert. Its blue waters contrast with the surrounding arid hills, and it attracts passing flamingos, ibises and herons. A sunset boat trip is a romantic and little-known experience.
Ouarzazate is the natural starting point for exploring the kasbah circuit: Aït Ben Haddou (30 km), the Dadès valley (100 km) and the Todra gorges (130 km). The Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, which crosses the Drâa valley towards Zagora, follows the river and its palm trees for 150 km in a dreamlike landscape.
Aït Ben Haddou, jewel of world cinema
30 km from Ouarzazate, the ksar of Aït Ben Haddou is one of Morocco's most famous sites. This fortified pisé village, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, dominates the Ounila river from a rocky hill. Its ochre-coloured raw earth architecture, crenellated towers and multi-storey granaries make it a perfect example of medieval Berber military and domestic architecture.
Aït Ben Haddou is one of the most filmed natural backdrops in the world: Gladiator, Babel, Prince of Persia and many Game of Thrones episodes were shot there. Walking across the river gives access to the ksar, where a handful of families still live. The guided tour lasts about two hours and reveals Berber symbols carved into the facades.
The Tichka pass: the most spectacular road to Ouarzazate
The Tichka pass (2,260 m) on the N9 road between Marrakech and Ouarzazate is one of Morocco's most memorable road experiences. The road climbs the northern slope of the High Atlas in vertiginous hairpin bends, revealing breathtaking panoramas of valleys and snow-capped peaks. Midway, the ksar of Telouet — the former sumptuous residence of the Glaoui caïds who dominated Morocco under the protectorate — is a mandatory detour for history and architecture enthusiasts.
The Tichka crossing, which takes about 2h30 from Marrakech, is not recommended at night or in winter when snow is present. Tour Come Morocco offers private transfers Marrakech-Ouarzazate with an experienced driver who knows every turn, allowing you to enjoy the landscape safely. Panoramic stops are organised at the most beautiful viewpoints to photograph the Atlas peaks and the pisé villages clinging to the cliffs.
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