Movie buffs may recognise it from Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth (for which much of Aït Ben Haddou was rebuilt), Jewel of the Nile (note the Egyptian towers) and Gladiator. From time to time the ksar also offers its services as a backdrop in blockbuster movies – often standing in for Jerusalem or other desert-bound cities of antiquity. Now the city keeps itself afloat through tourism (the city was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987). Some Gladiator scenes were also filmed in the nearby Atlas Studios, a film studio located just outside the city of Ouarzazate and about a 25-minute drive from Ait Benhaddou. The kasbar at Ait Ben Haddou on the left bank of the Wadi Mellah, near Ouarzazate, Morocco, North Africa.

Aït Benhaddou has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Aït Benhaddou’s days as a caravanserai are long gone.

Several films have been shot there . Ait Ben Haddou Ksar – which in this case means a fortified village – dates from the XVII century and is a labyrinth of connected dwellings surrounded by high ramparts and towers. Die eigentlichen Filmstudios … Small steep streets run and twist between the houses. According to Unesco, Ait Ben Haddou is an outstanding example of pre-Saharan earth construction.

With the help of some Hollywood touch-ups, this Unesco-protected red mudbrick ksar (fortified vilage) seems frozen in time, still resembling its days in the 11th century as an Almoravid caravanserai.

Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Most citizens attracted by the tourist trade live in more modern dwellings in a village on the other side of the river, although there are four families still living in the ancient village.

Hier wurden so berühmte Filme wie “Die letzte Versuchung Christi”, “Lawrence von Arabien”, “Gladiator”, “Königreich der Himmel” und “Alexander” gedreht. Ein riesiger „Krater“ vor dem Eingang ins Dorf markiert die Überreste der Arena, in der Russell Crowe als Gladiator in dem gleichnamigen Film um seine Freiheit kämpfte.

UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

Aït Ben Haddou is an ighrem, a fortified village, along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech in Morocco. Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Morocco. A ciconia nest in Ait Benhaddou Maroc location of gladiator movie.

Aït-Ben-Haddou (arabisch آيت بن حدّو, Zentralatlas-Tamazight ⴰⵢⵜ ⵃⴰⴷⴷⵓ Ayt Ḥaddu; oft auch Aït Benhaddou geschrieben) ist eine befestigte Stadt am Fuße des Hohen Atlas im Südosten Marokkos.Der komplette alte Ortskern ist seit dem Jahr 1987 von der UNESCO als Weltkulturerbe anerkannt. Ait Ben Haddou steht bei der UNESCO seht 1987 als Weltkulturerbe unter Schutz.

Gladiator (Ait Benhaddou) A short drive from Marrakech, there is an impressive fortified kasbah, called Ait Benhaddou. Aït Benhaddou, Morocco.

Auch wenn es durch die Ecktürme und Zinnen so wirkt als sei Ait Ben Haddou eine riesige Burg, handelt es sich um eine Wohnsiedlung.