If you’re in the mood for a smaller, lesser known Kasbah free from tourists, Tifoultoute has to be on…
Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate was established as a French garrison town. The majority of the population is Berber who are descendants to the people who built the kasbahs throughout the region.
Ouarzazate is known as the Moroccan Hollywood, in part due to the abundance of kasbahs in the area. World famous movies have been filmed across the country via the film studios in Ouarzazate. Some of the more recent movies are:
- Prince of Persia
- Inception
- American Sniper
- Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation
- The Bourne Ultimatum
- The Bible
- Gladiator
Recommended Length of Stay: Pass through
I loved filming in Morocco; it was amazing. I'd never been anywhere like that. The culture was phenomenal. I was so blown away by the spirit of that country.Tatiana Maslany
Places to visit while here
Tiffoultoute Kasbah
If you're in the mood for a smaller, lesser known Kasbah free from tourists, Tifoultoute has to be on your list. Nine kilometers east of Ouarzazate, this 17th century fortress overlooks the River Tifoultoute. This kasbah offers some very beautiful doors and walkways. The roof makes for a fantastic vantage point for some excellent views of the palm grove below.
In its splendour it belonged to a sheikh who was a rival of the caid of Ouarzazate. Later it passed to the caliphate of Glaoui. The restored part is the portion that the Glaoui built in the 1880s. The oldest part has been dilapidated and abandoned.
The rooftop terrace offers an amazing panoramic view overlooking the Ouarzazate river valley.
Fint Oasis
Fint Oasis is a large prolific patch of mesmerizing greenery in the middle of the desert, ten kilometers south…
Fint Oasis
Fint Oasis is a large prolific patch of mesmerizing greenery in the middle of the desert, ten kilometers south of Ouarzazate. The area is composed of four traditional villages, with a blending of Moroccan, Berber, Arab, and Sub-Saharan cultures.
The area has garnered little tourism attention, and is an area where you’ll see vestiges of the past such as women washing clothes in the river. Colorful carpets and clothing are strewn to dry across the hillsides on washing day. People are very welcoming of foreigners.
Atlas Film Studios
You’ll find Atlas Film Studios about five kilometers east of Ouarzazte. The studios were established in 1983 by entrepreneur…
Atlas Film Studios
You'll find Atlas Film Studios about five kilometers east of Ouarzazte. The studios were established in 1983 by entrepreneur Mohamed Belghmi. It covers 322,000 square feet of desert and mountains and has featured the movie sets of some of the world's greatest movies, such as: Star Wars, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, The Mummy, and many more.
Kasbah Taourirt
Kasbah Taourirt lies just a few miles south of Ouarzazate. The kasbah is within the small village of Taourirt….
Kasbah Taourirt
Kasbah Taourirt lies just a few miles south of Ouarzazate. The kasbah is within the small village of Taourirt. The kasbah sits at a historically significant crossroads of ancient caravan routes. According to oral tradition, the kasbah was built in the 17th century and expanded in 1930. The official records however date the kasbah in the 1930s.
At that time, it was used to house the second tier of the Glaoui Dynasty. During the colonial period, the French handed the Glaoui family full power to control the tribes in the south of Morocco. For this reason, the Glaoui, became known as the “Lords of the Atlas.” Understandably, the Glaoui were not highly regarded by their countrymen, as they were seen as puppets to the French.
In 1953, the kasbah was classified as a national heritage, and in 1972, it was purchased by the city of Ouarzazate.
The inside of the kasbah features a maze of nearly 300 uniquely designed rooms connected by mysterious stairways and halls. Taourirt Kasbah is as much a magnificent sight on the inside as it is on the outside.
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