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| Ouarzazate Morocco | |||
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The Marrakech Road : Aït Benhaddou (22 km north-west of Ouarzazate) The ksar of Ait Benhaddou is one of the most beautiful in Morocco and was recently classified as part of the world heritage by UNESCO. Mostly uninhabited, the fortified village is a fine example of clay architecture (crenellated towers with diamond-shaped decoration). y following the path to the dungeon of the ancient kasbah, the visitor can admire the exceptional view over the arid surrounding countryside, as well as the crests of the Atlas mountains in the background. Kasbah of Tifoultoute : (8 km west of Ouarzazate) This ancient fortress once belonged to the family of the Glaoui (Pasha of Marrakech). Built upon a mountainous promontory, it dominates the whole valley of the Ouarzazate oued. It has been converted into a hotel and restaurant, where traditional dances are performed in the evenings. Gorges of the Dadès & Gorges of the Todra These two natural wonders should not be missed ! The gorge of the Dadès (east of town), with its deep and winding canyon, is an amazing site. Legend has it that, in the olden days, whoever dared to venture into the gorge might avoid the bandits who controlled the passage, but would never escape from the fearsome lions of the Atlas, the last of which was killed in 1905. After the village of Memsir, on the territory of the Ait Attas, a track leads to Agudal and Imilchil, where the famous "Moussem des Fiancés" takes place every September, when the young women of the region come to Imilchil in hope of finding a husband. Another track leads from Agudal to the gorge of the Todra. This track first runs along a lush palm grove which borders the oued. The gorge is a most impressive sight : it narrows down to a ten-metre-wide passage squeezed between two 300-metre-high cliffs ! The Valleys of the Dadès and of the Draa The Valley of the Dadès The valley of the Dadès is sometimes called "the valley of the thousand kasbahs", and is very popular with tourists. It is a great pity that a great number of kasbahs are in a poor condition. Fortunately a few sites, such as the Skoura palm grove, have escaped the destructive effect of the years. This palm grove was founded in the 12th century by Yakub el Mansur, and is famous for its rosebushes and rose water production. It also shelters some very beautiful residences, the most remarkable of which is the kasbah of Amerhidil, with its finely decorated outside walls. Another site of interest is the fortified village of El Kelaa M'Gouna, the capital of the rose production industry, the ruined kasbahs of which still show beautiful ornaments. The Valley of the Draa This valley follows the Draa oued along 200km, from Ouarzazate to Zagora ("the gate of the desert"). Its path goes through numerous palm groves and villages of lush vegetation. This route is a great classic for visitors to Morocco, as it is an opportunity to discover some very beautiful and graceful ksars. The daring traveller may choose to carry on to Zagora and M'Hamid in order to admire the first great dunes of the Sahara desert. |
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