Hollywood's Go-To Filming Location: The Fascinating History of Ait Benhaddou!
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If you're planning on visiting Morocco's Ait Ben Haddou, then you'll want to know a little more about it. Understanding the history of this incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site makes it even more breathtaking when you first lay eyes on it.
This is a quick get-to-know Ait Ben Haddou guide and it covers all the main stuff you'll want to know – the history, the famous Hollywood movies and TV shows that were shot here, and even, nice restaurants and hotels to visit or stay in. Trust me, you won't want to miss some of the Ait Ben Haddou hotels I've included, which will give you the ultimate authentic local experience.
Once you're up to speed about this little Moroccan village, then it's time to plan how to get from Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou and what to do in Ait Ben Haddou. I've got you covered for both!
This post covers Ait Benhaddou Morocco.
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Ait Ben Haddou History
Origins of Ait ben Haddou
The roots of Ait Ben Haddou date all the way back to the 11th century, when Morocco's Almoravid dynasty was in power. They originally built a fortress at Ait Ben Haddou to provide the Berber people with a place to live and defend themselves.
Ait Ben Haddou and the trans-Saharan trade route
Eventually, Ait Ben Haddou became a ksar: a fortified village in North Africa. With its high defensive walls and fortified gate, it offered protection to traders, who were carrying important items like gold, salt, spices, and caravans, which could include 1,000 - 10,000 camels, to stop off and rest along the trans-Saharan trade routes. Ait Ben Haddou was strategically positioned along the trans-Saharan trade route; a route that ran from Sudan to Marrakech and operated at peak levels between the 8th and 17th centuries.
Establishing the current-day Ait Ben Haddou
By the 16th century, Ait Ben Haddou's use as a trade centre started to decline as other trade routes became more popular. Despite this, the ksar was still home to around 80 families. In the 17th century, the iconic clay, straw, and mud houses were constructed. The fact these buildings are still standing is a testament to the ingenuity of the Moroccan people to use the materials that make up their land to construct architecturally sound buildings.
I visited Ait Ben Haddou 10 months after the country was struck by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake and the only building that was properly damaged was the storehouse at the top of the hill. This just goes to show how well-built Ait Ben Haddou is.
Ait Ben Haddou's tourism boom
In 1987, Ait Ben Haddou was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many of the inhabitants moved across the Ounila River to set up accommodation for the influx of tourists. However, there are a handful of families that remain and still live in Ait Ben Haddou to this day.
When you visit Ait Ben Haddou, remember it is largely unchanged from how it was 300 years ago. So as you wander through the streets, you are essentially walking through centuries of history and along the same paths that traders and caravans once roamed. To me, that's a mindblowing thought and makes a visit there that much more interesting!
Ait Ben Haddou Movies and TV Shows
A major part of the reason that Ait Ben Haddou has become such a popular tourist site is because it has been featured in many famous movies and TV shows.
Popular movies and TV shows filmed at Ait Ben Haddou
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962) - Many scenes were filmed at Ait Ben Haddou.
- The Jewel of the Nile (1985) - The scene were the main characters try to escape in an F-16 fighter jet was filmed at Ait Ben Haddou.
- The Mummy (1999) - Ait Ben Haddou was used as an Egyptian town in the movie.
- Gladiator (2000) - The African city of Zucchabar was filmed at Ait Ben Haddou.
- Game of Thrones (2012) - All scenes filmed at the yellow city, Yunkai, were shot at Ait Ben Haddou. Most notably, in season 3 episode 10 when Daenerys Targaryen arrived at the gates of Yunkai (a.k.a Ait Ben Haddou) to take over the city and free the slaves.
The Five Highest-Rated Ait Ben Haddou Restaurants
- Auberge Azaddou Tamlalte - Cheap and cheerful. Serves up authentic Moroccan cuisine with a nice view overlooking Ait Ben Haddou.
- Restaurant Kasbah Valentine - Another restaurant serving up delicious Moroccan food with people raving in the reviews about their tagine and couscous.
- Restaurant Zaytoune - A hidden gem of a place with vegetarian options. It's well-priced, the service is great, and it has amazing tagine!
- TANMIRT - This restaurant offers both Moroccan and international dishes. Everything tastes really fresh and is well-presented.
- La Terrazza - Highly-rated Italian restaurant with incredible pasta and pizza, overlooking Ait Ben Haddou.
The Best Ait Ben Haddou Hotels for the Ultimate Authentic Experience
Kasbah Tebi and Kasbah El Hajja are the only hotels actually located within the walls of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. All other accommodation is situated over the river and overlooks the ancient village.
With Kasbah Tebi, you'll actually get to stay in an iconic Ait Ben Haddou 400-year-old house. This hotel has very limited electricity and is mainly lit by candlelight. To me, this seems like the best hotel for an authentic overnight stay but if there's no availability there, you'll still have a wonderful time at the highly-rated Kasbah El Hajja. Whichever one of these hotels you choose will give you insight into what it’s like to experience Ait Ben Haddou like a local—a true, once-in-a-lifetime experience you won’t want to miss!
I'm gutted because when I visited I ended up booking accommodation across the river because I wanted to see the sun rise and set over Ait Ben Haddou. Still, in hindsight, I wish I'd stayed in one of these incredible hotels.
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This post is about Ait Ben Haddou Morocco. Thanks for taking the time to read this blog, it’s much appreciated!
Kirsty x