Ouarzazate history

Foundation and First Mentions

The name Ouarzazate is derived from a Berber phrase meaning "without noise" or "without confusion." For a long time, this area served merely as a small but strategically vital transit point for traders. The modern city began to take shape in 1928, when the French administration selected this location to establish a garrison and an administrative centre for the region. However, the historical core of the settlement is considered to be the Kasbah (fortress) of Taourirt, which existed long before the European presence and served as the residence of powerful local rulers.

Key Factors of Development

The transformation of a small settlement into a significant city, known today as the "Door of the Desert," was driven by several reasons:

• Geography: Ouarzazate is situated at the junction of the High Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert, controlling the passages into the Drâa and Dadès river valleys.
• Trade: The city was located on the ancient caravan route connecting Marrakech with Timbuktu. Here, traders stopped to rest and replenish supplies before the difficult crossing over the mountains.
• Political Power: In the past, the region was under the control of the influential Glaoui clan. Their patronage contributed to strengthening the city's status as an administrative hub of southern Morocco.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

Initially, the regional economy was built on oasis agriculture and servicing caravans. The cultural appearance of Ouarzazate was defined by its unique architecture—the construction of fortified villages (ksars) and fortresses made of rammed earth, which is ideally suited to the local climate. Furthermore, the region was renowned for its artisans, particularly masters of weaving traditional Berber carpets with geometric patterns, which were highly valued in the markets of major cities.

Major Historical Milestones

The history of Ouarzazate is inextricably linked with trans-Saharan trade, the French presence, and the development of the film industry.

• 18th–19th Centuries: Expansion and fortification of the Kasbah Taourirt, becoming the residence of the influential Glaoui family and a key point on the caravan route.
• 1928: The French colonial administration officially founds the modern garrison town to control the southern territories.
• 1956: Following Morocco's independence, Ouarzazate loses its exclusively military function and begins to develop as an administrative centre.
• 1962: Director David Lean chooses the city's surroundings for filming the epic movie "Lawrence of Arabia," opening the region to world cinema.
• 1983: Atlas Studios is founded, turning the city into "Ouallywood"—the centre of film production in North Africa.
• 1987: The nearby Ksar of Aït Benhaddou is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, giving a powerful impulse to tourism development in Ouarzazate itself.
• 2004: Opening of CLA Studios, created in partnership with Italian investors to attract new international projects.
• 2007: The Cinema Museum opens in a former studio building, housing sets and props from famous films.
• 2016: King Mohammed VI launches the first phase of the Noor solar power station, one of the largest in the world, marking the beginning of the era of "green" energy in the region.

Stages of Development and Their Impact on the City

The evolution of Ouarzazate is a journey from a closed military outpost to a globally open centre of the film industry and "green" energy. Here are the key milestones that defined the modern economic and architectural appearance of the city:

• Formation of Urban Structure (Late 1920s)
  The foundation of the French garrison set the vector for urban planning. Unlike the chaotic construction of old kasbahs, the new part of the city ("Ville Nouvelle") received a clear layout with wide streets, administrative buildings, and a central thoroughfare (now Avenue Mohammed V), which still forms the basis of city navigation.
• International Location Recognition (1960s)
  The success of the film "Lawrence of Arabia" had colossal marketing significance. It attracted the attention of Western producers to the unique landscape and light of the region, effectively laying the foundation for the future specialization of the city's economy.
• Industrialization of Creativity (Since 1983)
  The opening of Atlas Studios transformed one-off filming into a permanent business. This led to the creation of thousands of jobs for local artisans, set builders, and extras, making film production a city-forming industry.
• Development of Transport Accessibility (1980s — 1990s)
  The modernization of Ouarzazate Airport and the improvement of roads through the Tizi n'Tichka pass allowed for a stable flow of not only film crews but also mass tourists, which stimulated a boom in hotel construction.
• Technological Breakthrough (2016)
  The launch of the Noor Ouarzazate solar station changed the city's status from "historical" to "innovative." This mega-project attracted foreign investments and engineers to the Drâa-Tafilalet region and contributed to the modernization of the energy infrastructure of the entire south of the country.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

Ouarzazate represents a unique example of duality in urban planning, where ancient traditions of desert architecture coexist with European rational planning. The city is clearly divided into historical districts with adobe buildings and modern quarters that emerged during the French protectorate era and expanded during the years of independence.

Traditional Berber Architecture (Pre-20th Century)

The historical layer of development is represented by a style ideally adapted to the harsh pre-Saharan climate. This is vernacular (folk) architecture utilizing local natural materials.

• Style: Vernacular architecture, adobe construction.
• Materials and Techniques: The primary construction method is pisé (rammed earth/clay), mixed with straw. The walls have a characteristic reddish-ochre hue.
• Features: Massive walls for thermoregulation, narrow slit windows, flat roofs, and geometric ornaments laid out from raw brick on the upper tiers of towers.
• Iconic Object: Kasbah Taourirt — a majestic fortified palace-labyrinth with crenellated towers, serving as a masterpiece of Berber architecture and a symbol of the old city.

Colonial Period (1928–1956)

With the arrival of the French, the urban planning paradigm changed radically. The founding of the garrison marked the beginning of the formation of the "New City" (Ville Nouvelle), which was built separately from the old kasbahs.

• Style: Colonial functionalism, elements of Art Deco.
• Layout: Unlike the chaotic labyrinths of the old quarters, a regular grid of wide streets was applied here. Avenue Mohammed V became the central axis.
• Features: One- and two-story administrative and residential buildings with clear lines, plastered facades, and spacious terraces. Buildings were designed taking into account military logistics and the comfort of European officials.

Modernity and Neo-Traditionalism (Since the 1980s)

The development of tourism and the film industry gave rise to a specific architectural style striving to preserve the visual identity of the region, but using modern technologies.

• Style: Neo-Sudanese style, postmodernism, imitation of antiquity.
• Features: Modern hotels, museums, and administrative buildings are often built of concrete but stylized as clay fortresses (ochre colour scheme, crenellated parapets, imitation towers).
• Cinema Architecture: A unique feature of the city is the sets of film studios (Atlas Studios, CLA Studios), where mock-ups of Egyptian temples, Tibetan monasteries, and medieval castles coexist in the desert landscape, creating a surreal architectural background.
• Industrial Dominant: The tower of the Noor solar power station, visible for kilometres, has become a new technological symbol contrasting with the ancient walls of the kasbahs.

Historical Figures and Celebrities

The history of Ouarzazate was shaped not so much by mass movements as by the will of specific individuals. On one hand, these were powerful rulers who turned the city into an impregnable citadel; on the other, art visionaries who saw within these walls the ideal settings for their masterpieces.

Rulers of the Atlas

In the first half of the 20th century, the region was under the complete control of the Glaoui clan. Their influence on the architecture and political weight of the city cannot be overestimated.

• Thami El Glaoui
  Pasha of Marrakech, "Lord of the Atlas"
  One of the most controversial and powerful figures in the history of Morocco. It was he who made the monumental Kasbah Taourirt his main residence in the south, where he received European guests and hosted lavish receptions. Under him, Ouarzazate finally secured its status as the "Gateway to the Desert," controlling trade caravans.
• Madani El Glaoui
  Military Leader, Grand Vizier
  Thami's older brother, who laid the foundation for the family's power. He actively expanded the clan's possessions in the region and supervised the construction of fortifications. Thanks to his efforts, local adobe fortresses turned into veritable palaces that attract thousands of tourists today.

Legends of Cinema

Thanks to the unique light and landscapes, Ouarzazate has become a second home for many world-renowned directors. Their names are known here no less than the names of local rulers, as it was they who gifted the city global fame and economic prosperity.

• David Lean
  British Film Director
  The man who opened this region to the big screen. By choosing the surroundings of Ouarzazate for filming the Oscar-winning "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962), he showed the whole world the cinematic potential of the Moroccan desert.
• Ridley Scott
  British Director and Producer
  One of the most frequent guests in the region. Here he filmed his epic pictures "Gladiator" and "Kingdom of Heaven." His work contributed to the professional growth of local film crews and the development of the city's studio infrastructure.
• Martin Scorsese
  American Film Director
  Used Ouarzazate locations to create the philosophical films "The Last Temptation of Christ" and "Kundun." Scorsese proved that local landscapes are universal and can convincingly portray both biblical Judea and the foothills of Tibet.