Photos of the Beautiful Berber Ksar Ait Benhaddou Morocco

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Photos of the Beautiful Historic Berber Fortified Ksar of Ait Benhaddou on the edge of the Atlas Mountains Morocco. Photos by photographer Paul E Williams. (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of the Beautiful Historic Berber Fortified Ksar of Ait Benhaddou

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Photos the Historic Berber Ksar of Ait Benhaddou, Morocco.

The Ksar of Ait Benhaddou

Aït Benhaddou is an ancient Berber ksar (fortified village) along the historic camel caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh in Morocco. It is and incredibly well preserved example of a Moroccan Berber adobe clay mud brick architecture.

Location of Ait Benhaddou

Ait Benhaddou is located on the southern edge of the High Atlas mountains in Morocco. Built on the banks of the Ounila River Ait Benhaddou is at the entrance to the Ounila Valley, one of the main trading routes across the Atlas Mountains to Marrakesh. Ait Benhaddou was one of the many ancient trading posts on the commercial route linking ancient Sudan to Marrakesh by the Dra Valley and the Tizi-n’Telouet Pass.

The Ksar of Aït Benhaddou is a picturesque example of southern pre-Saharan Moroccan architecture. The ksar is a mainly collective grouping of dwellings inside a defensive wall which are reinforced by towers with two entrance gates.

Layout of Ait Benhaddou

The buildings of Ait Benhaddou crowd together within the fortifications some being modest houses, whilst others resemble small palaces with high towers, decorated with Berber motifs in clay brick.

Although an ancient settlement today the oldest buildings of Ait Benhaddou do not appear to be earlier than the 17th century. They were built over earlier buildings using the same architecture styles typical of traditional Berber buildings in the valleys of southern Morocco.

Architecturally, the living quarters of Ait Benhaddou form a compact grouping, and the communal areas of the ksar include a mosque: a public square: grain threshing areas outside the ramparts: a fortification and a loft at the top of the village: a caravanserai: two cemeteries (Muslim and Jewish) and the Sanctuary of the Saint Sidi Ali or Amer.

Cross Sahara Traders

Aït Benhaddou became wealthy by buying goods from the cross Saharan traders so saving them the trouble of crossing the Atlas Mountains to Marrakesh. The merchants of Aït Benhaddou then traded the goods with traders from Marrakesh.

The Ksar of Ait Benhaddou is an extraordinary ensemble of buildings offering a complete panorama of pre-Saharan earthen construction techniques. Unlike other Ksars in the area Ait Benhaddou has preserved its architectural authenticity with regard to configuration and materials. The buildings are perfectly adapted to the climatic conditions and are in harmony with the natural and social environment.

Aït Benhaddou as a Film Set

The picturesque and unspoilt nature of Ait Benhaddou and its biblical architecture has been the location used in such diverse films as The Man Who Would Be King (film) (1975), Jesus of Nazareth (1977), Time Bandits (1981), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005) and Prince of Persia (2010) to name a few.

Ait Benhaddou has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.