Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou


World Heritage Identification Number: 444

World Heritage since: 1987

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇲🇦 Morocco

Continent: Africa

UNESCO World Region: Arab States

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Architectural Marvel: The Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou

The Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou, nestled in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, stands as a testament to the rich architectural heritage of North Africa. This remarkable fortified city, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, offers a unique glimpse into the ancient traditions and lifestyles of the region's inhabitants.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

The ksar, a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls, is a traditional pre-Saharan habitat. The houses crowd together within the defensive walls, which are reinforced by corner towers. Ait-Ben-Haddou, in Ouarzazate province, is a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco.

Encyclopedia Record: Aït Benhaddou

Aït Benhaddou is a historic ighrem or ksar along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh in Morocco. It is considered a great example of Moroccan earthen clay architecture and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

Read more on Wikipedia

Additional Site Details

Area: 3.03 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
(v) — Outstanding example of traditional human settlement

Coordinates: 31.04722 , -7.12889

Image

Image of Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou

© Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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Nearby World Heritage Sites

Medina of Marrakesh
104 km — Morocco
Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador)
256 km — Morocco
Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida)
278 km — Morocco
Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City: a Shared Heritage
332 km — Morocco
Historic City of Meknes
348 km — Morocco

Country Information: Morocco

Flag of Morocco

Official Name: Kingdom of Morocco

Capital: Rabat

Continent: Africa

Population (2024): 38,081,173

Population (2023): 37,712,505

Population (2022): 37,329,064

Land Area: 446,300 sq km

Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Aït Benhaddou, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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