Morocco's "Most Beautiful Village" → Ait Benhaddou

Ait Benhaddou is located in Ouarzazate Province, Morocco. This ancient city in southern Morocco was once an important gateway in ancient times. Although it is now almost completely abandoned, it is still well preserved and has even won the title of "the most beautiful village in Morocco." The ancient city was built using Morocco's unique red clay bricks. Although the castle looks like a sandcastle built on the beach, the entire city is huge and solid, which is why it was able to resist foreign enemies in ancient times. Ait Benhaddou is a medieval village fortification located in the high Atlas Mountains of southern Morocco, guarding an important trade route through the Sahara Desert. Dozens of similar villages have been found in southern Morocco. For centuries, these buildings made of dried mud have been one of Africa's most outstanding architectural masterpieces. Like the Great Pyramid of Egypt, they show a unique charm in their own way. These buildings are not very old. It is said that they were built in the 12th century, which was the heyday of the Berber Almohad dynasty. North of the Atlas Mountains, they captured Marrakesh and fought all the way to the Iberian Peninsula, almost occupying most of Spain. South of the Atlas Mountains, they controlled the entire Western Sahara. This village was built to "guard the important trade route across the Sahara Desert." In Arabic, they are called Ksar, which translates to "fortified castle." In 1987, Ait Benhaddou was approved by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee as a cultural heritage site and included in the World Heritage List. Many movies have been filmed here, including Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones, Gladiator, Cleopatra, Operation Red Sea, and more. It is known as the Hollywood of Morocco!