Etymology
Its name comes from a phrase meaning “without noise” or “without confusion”.
History
For a long time, Ouarzazate was a small crossing point for African traders on their way to northern Morocco and Europe. In the 16th century, Sheikh Abu al-‘Abaas Ahmed bin Abdellah al-Wizkiti al-Warzazi, of the of Ouarzazate and father of , helped establish control over the – region.
During the French period, Ouarzazate expanded considerably as a garrison town, administrative centre and customs post. It is home to the , which was the of the former and later owned by . The which secured Glaoui power is displayed outside the kasbah today.
The area is also known for its Ouazguita carpets with geometric designs of red-orange on black background.
Film studios
is one of the largest in the world,[] in terms of land area. Movies were shot here including , , , , , , and . It was also the location of an episode of the television series and . was filmed here.
Another large studio in Ouarzazate is .
Sights nearby
The souk
The kasbah-town of is nearby. Many excursions through the valley of the into the start from the city. These include trips to , an oasis town surrounded by palm tree plantations and a departure point for camel trains to , a journey that would take about 52 days. These days the border to Algeria is closed, stopping the Timbuktu route.
The city was part of the route of the and .
Many sights can be visited within the city, but also, a wide list of interesting attractions can be found around Ouarzazate.
Sights around Ouarzazate
Tifoultoute Kasbah
Fint Oasis
Jbel Adad Petroglyphs
Iguernan Nature Reserve
Ksar Ait Benhaddou
Ounila Valley
Skoura Oasis
Stork’s Kasbah
CLA Studios
Atlas Film Studios
The Abandoned “Hills Have Eyes” movie set
Tizgui Waterfall
Al Mansour Dahbi Dam
Gazelle Animal Natural Reserve of Bouljir
