What to do · Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate
Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate
Information
- Price
- About 25 DH, in cash
- Duration
- 1 h
- Who it's for
- Everyone
What it is and why it matters
The Taourirt kasbah is the great mud-brick building in the centre of Ouarzazate. Oral tradition says it was built in the 17th century by the Imzwarn family; in the 19th century it passed to the Glaoui, the lords of the south, who extended it around 1882 under Hammadi Glaoui. From here the crossing of the Draa and Dadès valleys was controlled, on the caravan routes to the Sahara. The family of Thami el Glaoui, pasha of Marrakesh throughout the French protectorate, lived in it until independence, in 1956.
Afterwards it was occupied by homeless families and gradually deteriorated. It was added to the national heritage list in 1954 and the municipality bought it in 1972. A small part was restored in the 1990s with UNESCO help, and the south wing was restored recently. The September 2023 earthquake opened cracks in it and brought down some parts.
What you see
What you visit is only part of the complex, the restored part. From outside you see the towers and the mud-brick walls with geometric Amazigh motifs. Inside you walk through courtyards, narrow staircases and rooms with carved and painted cedar ceilings, cane ceilings, paintings and zellige walls. The caid's former residence, unrestored, keeps carved stucco and decorated arches. The rest of the kasbah, around it, is still inhabited: it is a neighbourhood of alleys.
If it seems familiar, it is because it appears in Gladiator and in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.
Hours, price and duration
The Ouarzazate local website gives hours of 10:00 to 17:00 every day and an entry of 25 DH. Other sources give somewhat different prices depending on the year, and at the ticket office you pay in cash. Allow between 45 minutes and an hour. There is no advance booking: you buy the ticket at the door.
Getting there and parking
It is on Boulevard Mohammed V, Ouarzazate's main avenue. From any hotel in the centre you can reach it on foot or by petit taxi. If you go by car, park on the same avenue or in the surrounding streets, where it is usual for a parking attendant to ask you for a few coins.
From the Aït Ben Haddou ksar it is about 30 km and half an hour by car. On the way, at the entrance to the city, you pass the Atlas Studios.
With children and accessibility
Children like the staircases and passageways, but they are narrow, uneven and dimly lit: it is no place for a pushchair or a wheelchair. Keep an eye on little ones on the stairs. Inside it is cool even in summer, and it is a good plan for the hot hours.
Guides
It is usual for guides to offer their services at the door. You do not need one to understand the restored part, but a good guide shows you what each room was for. Agree the price before you start.
Tips
- Go at midday if the heat bites The mud walls keep the inside cool: it is the visit for the hours when you cannot be outside.
- Carry loose dirhams The entry is paid in cash and at the door there is not always change.
- Combine it with the Atlas Studios They are on the same road, at the entrance to the city: both visits fit into one morning.
Frequently asked questions
How much does entry cost?
The Ouarzazate local website gives 25 DH. It may have changed: carry cash and confirm at the ticket office.
Is it open after the 2023 earthquake?
The quake damaged part of the building, but the restored area can be visited. Some rooms may be closed for works.
Is it worth it if I have already seen Aït Ben Haddou?
They are different things: the ksar is a fortified village and Taourirt is the house of a powerful family, with decorated rooms inside.
As a family
