Ait Ben Haddou khasba is a fortified city, or ksar, located in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco. It is well-known for its distinctive red-earth buildings and its historical significance. Here are some key points about Aït Benhaddou:
- Location: Aït Benhaddou is situated along the former caravan route between the Sahara Desert and Marrakech. It is located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) west of Ouarzazate, a city in central Morocco.
- Architecture: The ksar is a type of traditional Moroccan architecture, characterized by earthen buildings surrounded by high walls. including houses and kasbahs (fortified houses), constructed using traditional building techniques.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: In 1987, Aït Benhaddou was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has been used as a filming location for various movies and TV shows, including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones.
- Cultural Heritage: The site is a prime example of southern Moroccan architecture, illustrating the region’s traditional construction materials and techniques….
- Conservation Challenges: Despite its historical and cultural significance, Aït Benhaddou faces conservation challenges, including the impact of weathering, erosion, and the need for ongoing maintenance.
Movies that showed in Ait ben Hadou hasbah
- The Jewel of the Nile (1985): This adventure film, starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito, is a sequel to Romancing the Stone. Aït Benhaddou serves as the backdrop for some of the movie’s scenes.
- The Living Daylights (1987): Part of the James Bond film series, The Living Daylights includes scenes filmed at Aït Benhaddou. The location is used to represent a fictional Afghan village in the movie.
- Gladiator (2000): Ridley Scott’s epic historical film, starring Russell Crowe, features Aït Benhaddou as a backdrop for some of its scenes, depicting ancient Rome and other locations.
- Alexander (2004): Directed by Oliver Stone, this historical epic about the life of Alexander the Great features Aït Benhaddou in certain scenes, standing in for ancient cities.
- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010): This action-adventure film, based on the video game of the same name, includes scenes shot at Aït Benhaddou.
- Game of Thrones (2011-2019): Aït Benhaddou served as the backdrop for the fictional city of Yunkai in the television series Game of Thrones. The city appears in Season 3, representing one of the Slaver’s Bay cities.
