In fiction, there is a place called the “City of a Thousand Slaves,” also known as “Yunkai.” Aït Ben Haddou is not just an ancient fortified city in southern Morocco, but also one of the most iconic filming locations in the world.
Its mudbrick walls and winding alleyways have brought to life lost cities, ancient empires, and imaginary worlds in movies and series that shaped the history of cinema. From Gladiator to Game of Thrones, this ksar has served as the backdrop for heroes, armies, and dynasties, making it one of the most recognizable cinematic sites—even if many don’t know its name.
So much for fiction. But in reality, more than a thousand years ago, a group of nomads settled between Marrakech and the Sahara Desert and formed a new community. The leader of the tribe was known as Haddou, and ‘Aït’ is the Berber word for ‘people of.’ The walls they built still stand, defying time — and welcoming visitors to this day.
Aït Ben Haddou was founded in the 11th century, although its current buildings date to the 17th century, when it flourished through trade in salt, gold, and slaves. It is a fortified city, also called a ksar, built to protect fields and crops and to shelter caravans crossing the desert on their way to Marrakech.
The structures we see today preserve ancestral construction techniques using adobe, wood, and straw—materials that make the city especially fragile. This fragility was laid bare in 2023, when an earthquake damaged parts of the city. Many other similar ksar structures have vanished in recent years due to exposure to the elements.
But in this case, several efforts have helped preserve Aït Ben Haddou using traditional methods, allowing its history to live on within its walls. In fact, the use of cement or any other modern material that could alter the city’s balance has been strictly forbidden.
The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 for its spectacular traditional architecture in southern Morocco. Its cobbled streets form a maze that connects walls, homes, shops, a mosque, and a museum, culminating in a summit with sweeping views of the Atlas Mountains.
Inside the fortress, you’ll find several kasbahs—complexes of buildings or palaces with square towers at each corner that housed powerful families. The structure of the ksar reflects the social organization of the time: wealthy families lived in large kasbahs, while traders and craftsmen resided in smaller homes within the walls.
Today, only a few families still live in the old city. Most are local artisans who continue to produce rugs, ceramics, and other traditional goods to sell to tourists.
Across the Unila River, just over the bridge, lies the new village, where most residents now live—sustained primarily by tourism generated by the ancient fortress.
Another reason the city has survived is its role as a backdrop for many famous films and series, earning it the nickname “Hollywood of Africa.” Some of the best-known productions filmed here include Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, and the more recent Game of Thrones. Nearby lies Atlas Studios, in Ouarzazate, Morocco’s most important film production hub.
Tourists, eager to immerse themselves in the worlds of their favorite movies and shows, arrive at this citadel and are stunned by how the architecture blends seamlessly with the landscape.
Once again, reality surpasses fiction, telling the story of a city that rose from the sand and protected its people for centuries—a city that may seem fragile, yet remains alive and resilient, transporting us back through time with every step along its ancient streets.
