1. Location and history
Ouarzazate is relatively new city - was founded in 1928 - and since then it is in a continuous process of development. During the French period it expanded much as a garrison town, administrative centre and customs post. The city is inhabited predominantly by Berberes (Tamazirt) who have constructed here many prominent kasbahs, some of them being now included in the UNESCO's heritage.
The surroundings make this city very special, Ouarzazate being located at an elevation of 1160 meters in the middle of a bare plateau south of the High Atlas Mountains and at the door of Sahara desert. Ouarzazate offers many beautiful landscapes and introduce you gently to Berbers' customs, the people who formed and settled Morocco.
2. Ouarzazate is the starting point of your adventure
Ouarzazate is the starting point of all the circuits and excursions in South of Morocco. Either you go to Dades Valley (the valley of roses) or to Draa Valley (the valley of 1000 kasbahs), all the routes will take you to the big desert of Africa.
3. Ouarzazate considered to be the Hollywood of Africa
Ouarzazate is the city of cinema. It hosts 2 major cinema studios in the world - Atlas Studio and Cla Studio - opened also for tourists, a cinema school and each year, directors and producers from United States, Italy, France, England and so on come to shoot here their movies. Some of these famous movies that were shot in Ouarzazate and its surroundings are Asterix and Obelix, Lawrence of Arabia, The man who would be king, Kingdom of Heaven, Mummy, Gladiator, Babel, Prince of Persia.
4. Ouarzazate is the place of the biggest solar project in the world
With a capacity of 500 MW and an estimated output of 1150 GWH/year (if thermo-solar technology is used), this project is the first of a series of 5 solar complexes that will have a combined capacity of 2,000 MW by 2020.
5. Five starts hotels emerged from 1001 nights
If you will ever come to visit Ouarzazate and you have enough money to spend, book a room in one of these beauties, that seemed emerged from Arabian nights. These are not just some simple hotels, but some sand palaces with all the luxury inside.
6. Taourirt Kasbah a great heritage for the world
Taourirt Kasbah is now included in UNESCO's world heritage due to its incommensurable value. What makes this kasbah so valuable? Its fascinated architecture and its glorious history. A former Glaoui palace, this fortress with 300 rooms marks the junction of 3 rivers - Dades, Draa and Ziz - and was an important point in numerous caravan routes.
Fascinated by its presence and the breathtaking landscapes that you can see from its towers, tourists and film-makers come in Ouarzazate to catch a glimpse of its beauty and its history.
Kasbah Taourirt was also the place where there were filmed some scenes from famous movies. One of this movie is Prince of Persia.
7. Rose products, Henna and Argan Oil
Ouarzazate is also famous for its rose products brought directly from the source, the city of roses, Kelaa Mgouna. Rose water, rose oils, rose soaps, rose body lotions and many more.
If you are with Berbers, then you should know that henna, roses and argan rule when it comes about beauty care. Face masks, body scrubbing, body lotions, hair masks, tattoos for special events, all this are huge topics to discuss. If you are there try them all.
8. Kohl for mysterious Arabic eyes
Maybe at least once in your life you asked yourself: How Arabian women make-up their eyes to look so good? The answer is kohl.
Kohl is an ancient eye cosmetic made by grinding galena (lead sulfide) plus other ingredients and it symbolizes many things.
In the beginning, kohl was used to protect eyes against ailments and people that live in desert use it much to protect their eyes from dust and burning sun. It is a belief that darkening around the eyes would protect one from the harsh rays of the sun. If you will go to desert you will see some men, women and children wearing kohl.
In some places, mothers apply kohl to their infants' eyes soon after birth to strengthen the child's eyes and to prevent him from being cursed by the evil eye.
When you buy kohl, be aware to have good quality and to be pure, otherwise you will ruin your eyes.
9. Great patisserie products
Morocco is know all over the world for its tasty, flavored and healthy cuisine. One of the greatest things that Morocco has is its patisserie. People from this country really love sugar and sweets. No tourist ever left Morocco without tasting some Moroccan cakes. Their wide variety of recipes makes difficult your choice when you enter in a Moroccan patisserie. Almonds, rose water, orange water, cinnamon, walnuts blend in amazing flavors.
10. If you go South you definitely have to try Olive oil and Olives
Olive oil made in South of Morocco has a very strong taste, it's very flavored and very healthy. Berbers eat olive oil and olives with homemade bread and mint tea for breakfast or for a snack, almost daily. Beside olive oil, Berbers have a wide range of olives, of high quality and natural.
11. Guesthouses for cultural exchange - Don't miss this!
Ouarzazate has many guesthouses that host tourists willing to discover authentic Berber traditions from Berbers themselves. If you choose to do this, I guarantee you will have the best vacation ever. From the homemade food that will never taste like the food they serve you in restaurants or hotels, to their beautiful ceremony of tea and the chance to try a henna tattoo right there in their house or the opportunity to see and to dress traditional Berber outfits, everything will give an incomparable taste to your vacation.
Just be opened and try to be a Berber during your staying in Ouarzazate.
