Top 8 Kasbahs in Morocco

All the best Kasbahs in Morocco, as well as the best Ksars and Glaoui fortresses, are on this list:
Morocco is home to a plethora of unique sites that travelers may explore. Kasbahs are the most frequented and fascinating places in Morocco, and they are also the most expensive. This section of Travelling in Morocco contains a list of the top 8 Kasbahs in Morocco that you should see.

Morocco used to be a tribal society. To put it another way, several prominent families met together with various other families and formed tribes. It was necessary to safeguard the leaders. As a result, every family or tribe was responsible for the construction of a stronghold or a Kasbah. Kasbahs, in other words, are fortifications constructed to defend the tribe’s leaders from intruders.

Another tale claims that the name is derived from Ksab, which is a kind of material used in the construction of roofs.

Please keep in mind that if you are heading to Morocco, we are a travel agency and can assist you in visiting these Kasbahs.

1. Ait Benhaddou (Ait Ben Haddou):

Located in the high Atlas Mountains on the left side of the road crossing the Telouet valley, the palace of Ait Ben Haddou is the greatest and most visited Kasbah in Morocco. It is also the most photographed. Ait Ben Haddou is sometimes referred to as the Ksar of Glaoua, which refers to the Thami El Glaoui and his clan that lived there. Also included is a collection of earthen mud structures that are enclosed behind tall stone walls. Ben Haddou, the tribe of Ait Ben Haddou’s founder, was a prominent member of the tribe. Tourists are increasingly interested in paying him a visit behind the guarded settlement.

The tribe employed a particularly innovative technique to construct this Moroccan architectural Kasbah, combining mud with wheat grain as a binding agent. It seems to be quite straightforward and resistant to climatic swings as a result.

At the current time, it is a Unesco World Heritage Site, and it was designated as such in 1987. This stronghold has a very high monetary worth due to the fact that it is the most visited in the world.

When it comes to Ait Ben Haddou’s tribe, there were approximately 500 individuals from a diverse range of religious and familial backgrounds. A mosque may be found just behind this stronghold, which serves as a place of worship.

By the building of walls, archeologists believe it to be older than the 17th century, according to their findings. Despite the fact that many believe it was constructed in the 18th century.

Kasbah residents work in agriculture, which is located around the perimeter of the fortified settlement. What is particularly fascinating about the Kasbah’s urban layout is that when it rains, water is diverted outside to the agricultural grounds.

The Moroccan Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou has the following sights:

The town of Ait Ben Haddou may be reached by the route p31. There is a lot to see and do there. As a result, our excursions with local guides might provide you with an opportunity to see the location.

To reach the summit and explore it, you’ll need to take the bridge and the steps, which provide a stunning view of the valley and surrounding agricultural regions as you ascend.

On the journey, you will come across the wonderful craftsmen who paint the Kasbah with Indigo and green or black tea, using traditional techniques. In the end, they burn the paper to reveal the wonderful mud colors underneath it. Additionally, in their stores, you can discover photographs from films that were filmed in Ait Ben Haddou, such as the Gladiator.

Ait Ben Haddou has been featured in the following films:

Given that Ait Ben Haddou has been the setting for several films and television programs, here is a list of some of the more notable and well-known ones:

• Lawrence of Arabia was released in 1962.
• ‘The Mummy’ was released in 1999.
• Alexander, 2004, p. 1

To learn more about Ait Ben Haddou, please get in touch with us.

2. Kasbah Telouet:

Thami El Glaoui, the most powerful member of the Glaoua tribe, constructed the structure during the 18th and 19th centuries. In addition, it is referred to as the Palace of Glaoua at the current moment. Trade ranked first among the palace’s residents as the most well-known activity.

There are massive salt mines on the p31 road that you may visit. Telouet’s significant residents were formerly involved in the sale of salt to caravans traveling over the Sahara desert on their way to trade in Marrakech and Europe.

The existing Kasbah of Telouet, as well as the ones in the surrounding area, were constructed around 1860. The most well-known is the palace, which required more than 300 people to construct its walls out of the mud and its roofs out of bamboo. In order to construct the ground, it is constructed by professionals using soft zellige and mud.

During his time period, Thami El Glaoui was very well-liked. He provided the French government with all of the necessary assistance. Furthermore, he received assistance in acquiring a large number of farms and major Moroccan Kasbahs. That was before his death in Marrakech, Morocco, in 1953. Because of this, the beautiful Kasbah of Telouet in Morocco has gone unnoticed.

3. Kasbah Amrhidil:

Amrhidil Kasbah is the most renowned architectonic Kasbah in Telouet’s hamlet in Morocco, and it is the most visited Kasbah in the world. It is more than 30 kilometers away from the city of Ouarzazate, where it is located. Located inside the palm groves, it is surrounded by more than 30 other lovely Kasbahs in Morocco. Thank you to the Nassiri family for looking after the building’s structure, which has increased its worth. To reach there, you must travel along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, which begins at Ouarzazate and continues south.

The Amrhidil Kasbah was constructed in the late 1950s by Mohamed Nassiri, who was a highly significant inhabitant of the Nassiri family at that time.

At the moment, it has been turned into a museum, where you can see tools that were used to construct structures out of mud and bamboo. Additionally, extremely ancient coins, Berber traditional practices, and items that belonged to the family of the tribe of Nassiri may be found inside the museum.

Following the tragic death of Mohamed Nassiri, all of the Kasbah’s tenants were forced to abandon their homes. When Redouane Nassiri arrived, he brought with him a strong desire to rehabilitate and restore the roofs. Even more, he sent personnel to repair and maintain the mud walls that had been damaged by rain and temperature variations.

What distinguishes it as a unique and must-see Kasbah in Morocco for visitors is the fact that it has been the location of various films. Consider the cases of Alibaba and Lawrence of Arabia.

How to get there?

In order to reach the Nassiri’s Kasbah from Marrakech, you must take the route p31 south. Also, if you are traveling to Ouarzazate for the night, either on a tour from Marrakech or on your own, be sure to have enough money with you. On the way to Skoura, you may go along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs of Morocco, which is more than 30 kilometers long.

You may also arrange a trip with Travelling In Morocco and go ahead to Skoura and the Kasbah of Amrhidil if you happen to be in the southern part of the country.

4. Taourirt Kasbahs:

Taourirt is one of the most beautiful and well-priced Kasbahs in Ouarzazate, thanks to the films that were made in the Atlas Studios. During the French colonial period, Thami El Glaoui had unwavering backing from the French in his efforts to seize control of the riches of the southern tribal peoples.

Originally constructed in the nineteenth century, the Kasbah of Taourirt rose in value dramatically throughout the 1930s. It was the strength of the Glaoui that was raised. In other words, they possessed the capacity to recruit people to help them construct more tiny Ksars and the homes of its residents in the surrounding area.

It has around 300 rooms and is widely regarded as the only labyrinth in Ouarzazate where you may take pleasure in going around.

The lovely Moroccan Kasbah of Taourirt is now in a state of semi-ruins, notwithstanding its historical significance. In a tiny section of the country, however, there are still many Bedouins who live. The majority of them are guides who are eager to take you on a tour of Taourirt’s various regions. There is everything from the old-fashioned kitchen to the living room and more.

As a result, if you are visiting the region on your own, request to see more of it. We also provide one-day tours from Marrakech to Taourirt and Atlas studios, so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

5. The Kasbah of Tifoultoute (Kasbah of Tifoultoute):

Tifoultoute, like the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, is a typical Berber settlement located near the Moroccan city of Ouarzazate. Also noteworthy is its location, which is eight kilometers west of the city center. The town of Tifoultoute, located within the municipality of Tarmigte, is well-known for the beauty of its Kasbah.

It was one of the palaces of the Glaoua, Thami El Glaoui, the Pasha of Marrakech, and it was one of the palaces of the Glaoua.

Despite the ruin of the settlement, the setting is still breathtaking and magnificent in its beauty. It has also served as the backdrop for a number of well-known films, including David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia and Franco Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth, among others. It is absolutely required to be transported in order to see the Kasbah of Tifoultoute, since it is necessary to go along the National Road No 9 in the direction of Marrakech. Nowadays, it has been converted into an Auberge, which is similar to a modest hotel with a breathtaking panoramic view of Ouarzazate and the surrounding mountains. Furthermore, they provide extremely reasonable rates for those who like to extend their stay and visit other Kasbahs in the surrounding region. Finally, Tifoultoute Kasbah has been ignored, which has resulted in the preservation of its historic aspect as well as the design of ancient Kasbahs in Morocco.

6. The Kasbah of Udayas:

The Kasbah of the Oudayas is situated on the escarpment of the southern bank of the Rabat estuary, on the heights of the Oudayas. With its blue, designed, and white walls, this building is one of a kind in its industry. Its name is derived from the tribe of the Udayas, whose task was to keep an eye on the city. Furthermore, the Almohad sultans Abd-El-Moumen and Yacoub El-Mansour started building this castle in the twelfth century, and it is still standing today. To go to the gate of the Udayas, you’ll need to walk along the majestic walls of the kasbah.

The Jemaa Street, which is now being used as a tiny store, runs through the whole Kasbah and will lead you to the oldest mosque in Rabat, which dates back to the twelfth century. Even better, from the platform of the semaphore, you can take in a beautiful view of the sea. A fascinating carpet cooperative can be found at the platform’s entrance, which is well worth a visit. In this realization workshop, you can see how artisans put their ideas into action. The Udayas tribe was very popular throughout its time period, and the Udayas Moroccan Ksar is a living example of a Kasbah that has survived in Morocco. With our excursions from Casablanca, you may see it with a native Moroccan travel guide to get the most out of your trip.

7. The Kasbah Museum:

Visiting Chefchaouen, often known as Chaouen, is most often done to take in the city’s many colorful landmarks and historical sights. There is a Kasbah Museum in Chaouen, Morocco, which is one of the many Kasbahs of Morocco that attract visitors. He or she will be able to find it in the heart of the metropolis. There, you will get the opportunity to go through the historic collections of artifacts discovered in the Chaouen area of France. Also on display are the historic weaponry, tagine pots, and other ornamental items that belonged to the Kasbah’s previous inhabitants, as well as their tombs.

This unique monument may only be seen on specified days, which are marked by a 9 Dirham (0.9 Euro) admission charge per individual.

8. Tamdakht Kasbah:

Tamdakhte, a community located away from the bustle of Ait Ben Haddou, provides a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the heart of Amazigh culture and tradition. Meet the residents, take a tour around the grounds, and participate in the celebrations by going outside. Also, don’t forget to pay a visit to the Tafarnout (traditional oven where the bread of the same name is baked). Furthermore, the town of Tamdakhte is situated in the Ounila Valley (in the High Atlas Mountains), halfway between Telouet and Ouarzazate, and is the beginning point of the road of the thousand kasbahs of Morocco(also known as the Thousand Kasbahs Route).

Tamdakhte’s kasbah is a centuries-old architectural wonder that has tragically fallen into disrepair in recent years. According to legend, it was once the house of an Amazigh chieftain, the Amghar Ali, or Brahim N’at Haddou, who was in opposition to Glaoui and lived in the building. Following his defeat and execution in 1900, his residence went into the possession of the Glaoui family. Furthermore, it was extended by cad Hamou in the 1920s, and cad Brahim constructed annexes to the building in the 1940s.

Following independence, the kasbah was used as a detention facility for the Oufkir family following Oufkir’s attempted coup in 1972. Minister of Defense and Army Chief of Staff under Sultan Hassan II On this occasion, the kasbah was modified to make interaction with the outside world prohibited.

Finally, I’d want to say that:

Kasbah is often defined as a square-plan structure constructed entirely of natural materials. This kind of environment is of Amazigh origin, and it is referred to as Tighremt in the Amazigh language. The term “kasbah” is quite new.

The building of the kasbahs in Morocco must adhere to a number of architectural regulations. Clay is used to constructing the walls (a mixture of earth and straw according to an ancient process that isolates from heat and cold). An additional feature of the home’s center is a terrace that lets in natural light throughout the whole structure.

In terms of the outside decorating of the towers and the tops of the walls, they are both rather beautiful. It is constructed of adobe. Also available is clay raw earth brick, which allows for the creation of hollow and relief patterns that openwork the high areas of the structure. The roofs are composed of separated beams and covered with tight reeds, which are then coated with clay soil to give them their distinctive appearance.