In the Atlas area you will not only be able to enjoy incredible views. You can also find in this area the best castles of Morocco.
The castles of Morocco are characterized by being made of adobe, hence they have a characteristic orange-brown color. You can find two types of castles: the Kasbah and the Ksar. What is the difference between Kasbah and Ksar? What are the best castles in the Atlas Mountains? We explain below.
What is the difference between Kasba and Ksar?
Yes, both are castles, that is, both the Kasbah and the Ksar are built for defensive purposes, but you can easily differentiate between them.
The ksar is characterized as a group of buildings that make up a typical Moroccan village. Among its buildings include the mosque, the medersa, the cemetery and hammams, which we have already talked about in another post.
The Kasba, on the other hand, is a single building with defensive towers and a central courtyard, originally owned by a middle or upper class family. Today, they are often used for sightseeing or as a museum.
Kasbah Glaoui Palace
It is not a very visited Kasbah by tourists, but it is one of the hidden gems of Morocco. On the outside it has a dilapidated appearance but inside it is beautiful and has a spectacular decoration, as it was a Berber palace that belonged to the El Glaoui family.
You will also be able to see panoramic views of the area that are worth the altitude.
Ait ben haddou
After seeing the Galoui Kasbah in Telouet, head to Ait Ben Haddou, which is the jewel in the crown when it comes to Moroccan castles.
I recommend you to visit Ait Ben Haddou and many other castles with our 7-day thousand Kasbah route. This is a Ksar made of mud and adobe, where you can visit its winding streets and its mosque.
Scenes from famous movies such as Gladiator, The Jewel of the Nile and Indiana Jones were filmed there.
Ait Ben Haddou possibly dates back to the 17th century and has the typical architecture of the desert. The village was established in the Souss-Massa-Drâa area for its commercial flow, as it connected the imperial cities such as Marrakech, with the ancient Sudan.
Today, it is a sparsely inhabited village dedicated to the filming of series and movies, and to receive travelers.
Kasbah of Taourirt
Just 40 minutes drive from Ait Ben Hadou, we continue our route through the Kasbah of Taourirt, which is one of the best preserved in Morocco . That is why it is also one of the most beautiful and the one that will best represent what a typical Moroccan castle is like.
It also belonged to the El Glaoui family and was rebuilt in the 20th century. Visit it with our 8 days trip “Desert Gate”.
Kasbah of Amerhidil, in Skoura
The Amerhidil Kasbah is located in the Skoura Oasis, 40 km from Ouarzazate. It was built by a Middle Atlas tribe, but later inhabited by the El Glaoui family like the other Kasbahs in the area.
It is another of the best preserved Kasbah in Morocco and a curious anecdote is that it can be seen on the 50 dirham bills of Hassan II.
It is somewhat difficult to reach and with much to tell, so we recommend that you go on an organized trip if possible and with a local guide. About two hours from there you can see the ksar El Khorbat, near the Todra Gorge.
