Route Of The Kasbahs

Ait Ben Haddou is a fabulous place declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Situated at the top of a hill, it features an incredible fortified village (ksar) built of adobe that covers an entire hillside down to the riverbed, offering excellent landscapes and one of the finest views in Morocco. The sensations this place evokes during sunset and sunrise are endless, thanks to the striking contrast of colors, lights, and shadows that are created. Ait Ben Haddou is one of the best-preserved Kasbahs in all of Morocco, and it stands as an outstanding example of the Kasbah architecture found throughout the Draa, Todgha, Dades, and Souss valley regions. In Ait Ben Haddou, one can see how the structures are built in a strategic position against a mountain, surrounded by corner towers and a defensive wall. The exact date of Ait Ben Haddou’s construction remains undetermined. This impressive adobe structure is still inhabited by a few families. It is crowned by a cliff about one hundred meters high, which holds the remains of an old building and offers a magnificent view of the landscape—an ideal spot for taking photographs of the surroundings. Some of the most iconic photos of Ait Ben Haddou have been taken from this cliff. Its battlemented towers are decorated with blind arches and geometric designs that create a play of light and shadow. The silhouette of the buildings, the breathtaking environment, and the kindness of its people have drawn numerous film crews over many decades. Although the landscape is arid and rocky, water is not scarce. The land features sparse vegetation, though date palms, fig, orange, and lemon trees abound, along with other fruit trees like almond and apple trees. In a wide view of the landscape, we can see different shades of red depending on the time of day, with its numerous fortified towers appearing to be built right into the mountain.