Ait Benhaddou kasbahs
by angiebabe
30 km out of Ouarzazate towards Marrakech is the ksar - fortified village - of Ait Benhaddou. This impressive conglomeration of kasbahs and granary has since been made a unesco heritage site and has been a site used for some well known movies such as Gladiator and Laurence of Arabia.
Several families still live within the ksar.
10 dirham entry fee and the village can be explored without a guide. There is a house that charges 5 dirham entry to see where Gladiator had been made but there didnt really seem to be anything of obvious to the movie but provides further viewing into a residential area behind closed doors.
you can wander your way up the lanes and stairways up to the old granary on top of the hill for excellent views and photos over the village and valleys beyond.
La Caravane Des Epices - Herboristerie
by suvanki
After visiting Zagora for a night in the desert/ camel ride,as part of our tour, we returned briefly to Ouarzazate, and stopped off at this herbalist/berber pharmacy.
I'm afraid my heart sank- I'd 'done my 'apprenticeship' of Berber pharmacies' during my visits to Marrakesh, where I'd become au fait with the routine/chat involved with attempting to sell the various herbs, spices, oils etc. and I'd got a stock of the aforementioned back home in the UK!
However, for most of my fellow travellers, this was their 1st experience, so I decided to 'grin and bear it'
Yes, he had the usual wares, however, his demonstration was added to by applying kohl eyeliner and berber markings to a couple of our group, and his imaginative use of a gourd!!!
I didn't buy anything, but I did enjoy his sales patter/technique, and quite a few of our party did purchase goods.
(Please see my Marrakesh, tips for more info re Berber Pharmacies)
Ouarzazate
by angiebabe
"busy regional crossroads town with lots happening"
A laidback yet busy town along the major access roads to Zagora and the Draa Valley in the south, the Tafilalt in the east, marrakech in the north and Taroudannt in the west providing services of a provincial town for a large area and also now busy as a town servicing the needs of the film industry with yet another film studio opened.
"town with history- Glaouis were here also"
The Glaouis were also here, as was their headquarters nearby at Telouet, being central to their access routes to the areas they maintained control and power over and here is still Palace Taouorirt which is able to be visited but does provide a major landmark as you go through town.
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Film Set
Packing our backpakcs on the roof
Jbel Tifrnine and Tizi-n-Tinififft
Ouarzazate citycentre
