TRAVELLIVE 04-2017

Ait Benhaddou, located
in the Southeastern
Morocco, has been
recognized by UNESCO
as a World Heritage
Site since 1987, the
same year when The Living
Daylights was filmed there. The
village has also been the setting of
famous films such as Lawrence of
Arabia, Star Wars, and Gladiator.
About 30km from Ouarzazate,
Ait Benhaddou, nestled in the
foot mountains of the High Atlas,
is one of the most attractive
places in Morocco. The village
enchants international visitors
with buildings following a special
style called Ksar. Ksar refers to a
group of houses made by soil and
surrounded by high walls, which
is considered the traditional living
space of locals in the Sahara
desert. There are also Kasbah
houses consisting of 3 to 4 floors
made from soil. Inside high mud
walls are 6 ksars, each including
8 families living together.
The houses are not terribly
sophisticated, but the upper floors
are adorned with ornate patterns.
Moreover, a tower is built in each
corner of the wall by brick and
mud in a traditional way.
The more sophisticated the towers
are, the richer their owner is.
Many towers are even so ornate
they look like crowns. However,
as all of them were made from
soil, after years they get old and
fall apart due to the weather.
Reach higher ground and you
will have a chance to take in the
beauty of the village. From above,
the Ksars are more stunning
under vivid desert sunshine.
For many visitors, the best time
to visit Ait Benhaddou is late
afternoon and during sunset. If
you can do only one thing on your
visit here, then make it standing
on the peak of Ait Benhaddou and
overlook the area in the amazing
moment of sunset.
If you can do only one thing on your visit here, then make
it standing on the peak of Ait Benhaddou and overlook the
area in the amazing moment of sunset.
Mr. Mohamed is a fire painter
and has lived there for 30 years.
With simple tools, and skillful
hands, he paints gorgeous
pictures of Morocco's culture
and landscape as well. The most
difficult thing is creating the
"soul" for the painting, he shared.
This requires the patience, skills,
and the passion of a true artist.
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TRAVELLIVE