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Ouarzazate
The gates of the Sahara desert...
Lying at the confluence of the Atlas, Drâa and Dades valleys, Ouarzazate has always been a strategic location.
It has its origins in a French garrison to the west of the clay-walled village of Taourirt. The village is known for the impressive Glaoui Kasbah, one of the largest of the feudal castles of the Glaoui clan, whose famous leader, Thami-el-Glaoui, ruled over a large part of southern Morocco during the time of the French protectorate, extending his sphere of influence by colluding with the French colonisers. Ouarzazate is now developing into a desert destination, taking advantage of the fantastic desert countryside and the proximity of the Atlas, Drâa and Dades valleys.
The region of Ouarzazate has also become an important location for film-making. The history of the film location business in Morocco goes back to the Lumiere Brothers and such classics as Orson Welles’ Othello and David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia. However, it is recent blockbusters, such as Romancing the Stone, the Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander the Great and Asterix that have really put Morocco on the fim-makers’ map. With the surrounding Atlas scenery being so similar to Tibet, Ouarzazate’s film studios have proved popular among producer of Tibet movies, including most famously Martin Scorsese’s film Kundun, released in 1998.
The main route to the west continues down the Dades valley, passing brownish-red outcrops topped by ksour. The Dades valley threads its course between the High Atlas range to the north and the rugged Jebel Sahro range to the south. Further along the valley, the beautiful Dades and Todra Gorges cut back up into the High Atlas. Along the main valley and part way into the gorges, oases line the river courses and red clay ksour blend into river terraces, glowing red in the late afternoon sun. The natural beauty of ochre-coloured walls and green valley bottoms, with the snow-capped Atlas as a backdrop, is a dramatic scenery. Overnight stays in Tinerhir, Boumalne du Dades or El-Kelaâ M’Gouna are recommended.