Ouarzazate, often nicknamed the "Hollywood of Morocco," is a city in the south-central part of the country, known for its dramatic landscapes, historic kasbahs, and its role as a major film-making location. It serves as a gateway to the Sahara Desert and the stunning Draa Valley.
The city’s name comes from a Berber phrase meaning "without noise" or "without confusion." Strategically located at the confluence of the Draa and Dadès valleys, Ouarzazate was a former garrison town and a key stop on trans-Saharan trade routes. It was founded by the French in 1928 as a military post. Its modern history is defined by the film industry, which began flourishing in the 1960s, leveraging the unique light and dramatic natural backdrops.
Ouarzazate is a small town in the High Atlas mountains, significantly smaller than the major imperial cities, giving it a calm and relaxed atmosphere.
Ouarzazate's main attractions focus on its cinematic history and ancient fortified villages. Key sites include:
Ouarzazate has a desert climate with very hot summers and cold winters, and large temperature drops at night. It is about four hours from Marrakesh and is a convenient base for desert tours. The city is known for ochre-tinged buildings and traditional mud-brick architecture blending with the surrounding red rock formations.
