Aït Benhaddou, Morocco
© Grant Faint/Getty Image
Guardians of the dunes. Aït Benhaddou, Morocco
Are you looking for sandy charms? Come to Aït Benhaddou, Morocco, situated along the old caravan route linking the Sahara to Marrakesh. This UNESCO World Heritage Site showcases Moroccan earthen clay architecture, a building technique that uses sun-dried mud to make structures. Although none of the buildings here are believed to predate the 17th century, they are constructed using techniques and styles that are much older.
Located on the gentle slopes overlooking the Asif Ounila (Ounila River) is the ksar, a fortified village of Aït Benhaddou, with mud-brick structures. Clustered within a defensive wall with a gate and corner towers, ksars are a great representation of classic pre-Saharan dwelling. The ksar's communal landscape include a public square, a mosque, grain-threshing areas beyond the fortifications and a caravanserai—a type of roadside inn, among other features. So, if you are seeking a journey off the beaten path, Aït Benhaddou awaits you!
Related Images
Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire
The Gardens of the Palazzo Corsini al Prato, Florence, Italy
Blue walls of Chefchaouen, Morocco
Guaita tower in San Marino
The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West, Florida, USA
Fishing huts in Smögen, Sweden
Old Town of Tallinn, Estonia
Oast house roofs with wind vanes decorated with agricultural scenes on a farm in Kent
Bing Today Images
