Egyptian temples
Giant film sets.
Benh LIEU SONG from London, United Kingdom — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Yair Haklai — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Benh LIEU SONG from London, United Kingdom — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ilyass T. from Metz, France — CC BY 2.0 · Ilyass T. from Metz, France — CC BY 2.0 · Zouavman Le Zouave — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Martijn Munneke — CC BY 2.0 · Radosław Botev — CC BY 3.0 pl
A huge film studio on the edge of Ouarzazate, founded by the businessman Mohamed Belghmi in 1983, most of its grounds spreading into the surrounding desert and mountains. Thanks to the clear climate and landscapes that can stand in for many countries, Ouarzazate became a destination for international film shoots and earned the nickname Hollywood of Africa. Sets from many films still stand where they were built, so you walk with a guide among Egyptian temples with columns and giant statues, ancient city walls, eastern market lanes, a Tibetan monastery built for Kundun and a plane from The Jewel of the Nile, hearing stories of the shoots and the stars who passed through. The visit is fun for film lovers and families, showing how grand scenes are made from plaster, wood and paint; on some days you may come across a new production being shot, when some sets are closed to visitors. The guided tour costs about eighty dirhams according to recent guides, with tours leaving regularly through the day. The studio is on the road to Aït Benhaddou, so combine the two in a day.
Giant film sets.
A Tibetan set.
From a famous film.
Marrakech road, about five kilometres west of Ouarzazate
Yes, visits are usually by guided tours leaving through the day, and the guide explains the films shot on each set.