Ait ben Haddou is one of Morocco’s cultural and architectural marvels. The kasbah is considered to be one of the world’s largest and most famous entirely earthen-work structures.  With walls and buildings made from mud-brick and piste the kasbah requires constant maintenance and upkeep by its few remaining residents, who enthusiastically invite visitors to discover their unique home. A single hardpacked stone and clay street leads visitors upward in a series of switchbacks to the hilltop around which the kasbah is nested and provides a dramatic view of the outlaying valleys. Ait ben Haddou has been the backdrop for a lot of well known films, including Lawrence of Arabia, The Last Temptation of Christ, and more recently, Gladiator and Hidalgo. As one of Morocco’s 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Ait ben Haddou is an impressive architectural marvel as well as one of the country’s great cultural heritage treasures not to be missed.

Did you enjoy this weekly Moroccan Snapshot? If so, why not share it with your friends? Leave a comment below to let us know what you think, too!