Movie locations in Morocco spread from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic but top of the list are the southern oases. There are Berber villages and exotic towns, glowing Kasbahs and bustling souks, fabulous palaces, rugged mountains and deserts scattered with rose gardens and ribbons of palms.
Romance, adventure or drama, Morocco always has a suitable venue. Favourite locations include Ait Benhaddou for its dramatic Kasbah, Marrakech with its palaces and souks and Ouarzazate, home to Atlas and other film studios.
Top Movie Location in Morocco, Ait Benhaddou and its Kasbah
Among all fortified villages in Morocco, Ait Benhaddou is the most dramatic, clinging to a barren hill, mirrored in a stream where donkeys carry visitors across the water. Then, it’s a hot steep climb through old jumbled up houses strewn with mud walls and crenellated towers. All seems deserted but now and then, someone offers mint tea or a Berber rug and high above, the crumbling castle keeps guard over the oasis and pink sandstone hills.
The picturesque Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou has appeared in many films, including Sheltering Sky, Gladiator, Kundun, Jewel of the Nile, The Mummy and Lawrence of Arabia. As well as a top movie location, Ait Benhaddou is a World Heritage site.
Ouarzazate, Atlas Film Studios in Morocco’s Southern Oases
Is Quarzazate worth visiting?
What is Quarzazate known for?
At 1160 metres, the neighbouring town of Ouarzazate enjoys a privileged location between mountains and desert, at the meeting point of the Draa and Dadès valleys. Ouarzazate claims its own historic Kasbah but film buffs are sure to head for the Atlas Studios set up in 1983 by Moroccan entrepreneur, Mohammed Belghmi. Except during shooting, the studios are open to visitors who have a chance to gaze at the old film sets.
David Lean was the first director to bring Ouarzazate and its surroundings to the fore but others followed, shooting scenes for Cleopatra, The Living Daylights, Kingdom of Heaven, Babel or the Man Who Would Be King. The Ouarzazate film studios are said to be the largest in the world.
Marrakech, Souk and Palaces
At the foot of the Atlas, the lush oasis of Marrakech guarantees an authentic atmosphere and exotic setting. Once an imperial city, Marrakech has retained some fabulous buildings, red ramparts, palm groves and royal gardens. But for film producers, favourite locations are the Djemaa el Fna Square with its snake charmers and water sellers, the dark lanes of the souks and the odd palace or two.
Brideshead revisited made use of the Bahia Palace, scenes from Alexander were shot in the Mamounia Gardens while ‘The Man Who Knew too Much’ featured the same palatial hotel, the square and souks. The popular Mamma Mia shows a daring Bill racing his bike across the Djemaa el Fna.
