Plizio Visual Lab
Ouarzazate
ℹ️Practical info — Ouarzazate
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Book a guided tour at the film studios early in the day to avoid the intense afternoon heat.
- Kasbah Taourirt is beautiful, but only part of it is restored; hiring a local guide helps bring its history to life.
- Use Ouarzazate as a base to visit the nearby famous Ait Benhaddou.
- Taxis are cheap, but the city center is small enough to walk.
🍽 Food
A hearty Moroccan soup, excellent for an evening meal at a traditional restaurant.
Cooked slowly over coals, available in most restaurants near the main square.
Try them with a pot of sweet mint tea in a rooftop café.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
Brought in from the nearby Dades Valley; excellent for skin care.
Authentic saffron from Taliouine can be found in the spice shops.
A beautiful, tranquil oasis located about 15km south of the city.
A calm lake area excellent for bird watching and relaxing.
Water temperature…
Ouarzazate, widely known as the "Gateway to the Sahara," is located on a high plateau in the Atlas Mountains at an elevation of 1,160 meters. While the modern city developed as a garrison town during the French protectorate, its historical roots are deeply embedded in the ancient caravan routes connecting sub-Saharan Africa with Marrakech. The city's architectural crown jewel is the Kasbah Taourirt, a 19th-century fortified palace of the Glaoui clan built entirely from rammed earth. In contemporary times, Ouarzazate has emerged as a major global hub for the film industry, a status cemented by the establishment of the Atlas Corporation Studios in 1983. Countless international film productions have utilized the surrounding desert landscapes and historic fortifications as backdrops. Furthermore, the region is home to the Noor Solar Power Station, one of the largest concentrated solar power plants in the world. Its strategic position at the confluence of the Ouarzazate and Dades rivers makes it a vital staging point for travelers heading into the Draa Valley.
- Location: Morocco
- Top sights: Taourirt Kasbah · Musée de Cinéma · Al Wahda
- Nearby: Setti Fatma (81 km)
- Population: ~77.603 (2024)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is May, Jun, Sep.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 7 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 24 | 28 | 27 | 22 | 17 | 11 | 7 |
| Rain mm | 17 | 19 | 30 | 17 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 21 | 21 | 30 | 18 |
Geography
Facts
- Located at an elevation of 1,160 meters above sea level.
- Home to the Atlas Film Studios, established in 1983.
- The Kasbah Taourirt dates back to the 19th century.
- The Noor Solar Power Station began construction in 2013.
- The name translates to 'without noise' in Berber.
- A former major hub for trans-Saharan trade caravans.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Ouarzazate (3)
Frequently asked questions
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