Aït Benhaddou, Morocco
© Grant Faint/Getty Image
Guardians of the dunes. Aït Benhaddou, Morocco
Are you looking for sandy charms? Come to Aït Benhaddou, Morocco, on the old caravan route linking the Sahara to Marrakesh. This UNESCO World Heritage Site showcases Moroccan earthen clay architecture, made using sun-dried mud. Although none of the buildings here are believed to predate the 17th century, they are constructed using techniques and styles that are much older. Located on the gentle slopes overlooking the Asif Ounila (Ounila River) the Ksar of Aït Benhaddou is a fortified village, clustered within a defensive wall with corner towers. The ksar's communal landscape includes a public square, a mosque, grain-threshing areas beyond the fortifications, and a caravanserai—a type of roadside inn, among other features. So, if you are seeking a journey off the beaten path, Aït Benhaddou awaits you.
Related Images
Bing Today Images
Guaita Tower in San Marino
At Casa Batlló for Sant Jordi’s Day in Barcelona, Spain
The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West, for Hemingway Days
The Garden of the Palazzo Corsini al Prato in Florence, Italy, for the New Generation Festival
Old Town of Tallinn, Estonia
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Smögen, Sweden
Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire, England