Morocco fortress village hopes to draw 'Game of Thrones' fans
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Sunday, November 24, 2024


Morocco fortress village hopes to draw 'Game of Thrones' fans
A man stands atop the Kasbah (ancient fortress) of Ait-Ben-Haddou, where scenes depicting the fictional city of Yunkai from the hit HBO television series "Game of Thrones" were filmed, about 32 kilometres northwest of the city of Ouarzazate south of Morocco's High Atlas mountains on January 27, 2020. Millions worldwide may have seen the desert fortress in the hit fantasy series "Game of Thrones", but few know they can visit Morocco's kasbah Ait-Ben-Haddou -- where locals hope more fans might visit. The fortified city at the foot of the majestic Atlas mountains enchanted global audiences in the epic HBO series and also served as a dusty backdrop in Ridley Scott's swords-and-sandals epic "Gladiator". FADEL SENNA / AFP.

by Ismail Bellaquali



AIT-BEN-HADDOU (AFP).- Millions worldwide may have seen the desert fortress in the hit fantasy series "Game of Thrones", but fewer know they can visit the Moroccan village of Ait-Ben-Haddou.

The fortified old settlement at the foot of the majestic Atlas mountains enchanted audiences in the HBO series and also served as a dusty backdrop in Ridley Scott's epic swords-and-sandals film "Gladiator".

But unlike other famous locations from movie and television history, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has so far missed out on a mass influx of tourism -- something some of its inhabitants are eager to change.

"Several people have told me that they came here to see the filming location of 'Game of Thrones'," said Ahmed Baabouz, a local tour guide. "There is tourism linked to cinema here but frankly we have not developed it to the extent it could be."

Ait-Ben-Haddou is southern Morocco's most famous fortress. Time seems to have stopped at the site overlooking a valley some 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) from the town of Ouarzazate.

After passing through the imposing entrance way, visitors navigate a labyrinth of winding alleys that eventually lead onto a public square where the settlement's inhabitants once gathered.

There is a mosque and two cemeteries -- one for Muslims and one for Jews. Most inhabitants have long since departed though, with a few homes converted into stalls selling handicrafts.

The fortress is an ideal film setting, located a short distance from the studios of Ouarzazate, the "Mecca" of Moroccan cinema. Productions ranging from "Lawrence of Arabia" to "The Mummy" have been filmed here.

More recently, scenes from the cult series "Game of Thrones" were shot at Ait-Ben-Haddou, with the site standing in for the fictional Yellow City of Yunkai which is conquered by Daenerys Targaryen, a key character in the "GOT" universe.

Hammadi, 61, is a privileged witness to the location's cinematic history.

"All of these productions have contributed to the reputation of the region," he said, grinning widely.

Hammadi himself has appeared as an extra in a number of films. And while like most people he lives in a more modern home in a village on the other side of the valley, he continues to return to Ait-Ben-Haddou to welcome tourists.

'House of the Dragon'
On a wall at the entrance to Hammadi's former home, photos bear witness to the projects he has worked on.

One shows him dressed as an ancient Roman with director Ridley Scott on the set of "Gladiator".

"We have a very rich cinematic heritage that we hope to use to attract tourists," said tour guide Baabouz, who is 29.

But "nothing indicates that 'Game of Thrones' was shot here," he added.

On Morocco's Atlantic coast, the city of Essaouira also formed the backdrop to scenes from the series.

But there too, Moroccan tourism promoters are yet to capitalise on the connection.

In comparison, Northern Ireland, Malta and Dubrovnik in Croatia have attracted hordes of fans from around the world, drawn by their links to the franchise.

To remedy this, Baabouz and other young people in the village are pooling their limited resources towards an ambitious project: a museum in the fortress, gathering photography from the productions that have been filmed here.

US channel HBO has commissioned a prequel to "GOT", called "House of the Dragon". George R.R. Martin, the author of the books on which the series is based, wrote on his blog that shooting would also take place in Morocco.


© Agence France-Presse










Today's News

February 19, 2020

Pompeii restoration unearths 'surprise' treasures

Here lies the skull of Pliny the Elder, maybe

'Making the Renaissance Manuscript: Discoveries from Philadelphia Libraries' on view at Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center

LACMA opens the first exhibition in the United States to showcase the work of Luchita Hurtado

Exhibition brings together 200 works by American and Mexican artists

New galleries and star objects revealed for £13m transformation of V&A Museum of Childhood

British Museum's world-class collection of French prints to go on show for first time in 40 years

Harvard Art Museums present 'Painting Edo: Japanese Art from the Feinberg Collection'

Jim Morrison and The Doors star alongside Charlie Chaplin and a galaxy of Hollywood stars at Swann Auction Galleries

Morocco fortress village hopes to draw 'Game of Thrones' fans

Rare images from Shackleton's expedition offered at Bonhams Travel and Exploration sale

Morphy's Mar. 10-11 auction boasts fine toys, exquisite automata, comic character rarities

Pirelli HangarBicocca opens an exhibition of works by Trisha Baga

Monica Obniski appointed Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at High Museum of Art

BOZAR opens an exhibition of works by the artist duo Jos de Gruyter and Harald Thys

Solo exhibition by Sharif Waked opens at Center for Contemporary Art Tel Aviv

Bergen Assembly announces Ingrid Haug Erstad as new director

Swann Auction Galleries to offer catalogue of Diana letters

Summers Place Auctions' first auction of the decade opens with a mix of decorative pieces

Commissioned artists announced by Park Avenue Armory for 100 Years │ 100 Women Initiative

100 years of African-American art based on storytelling on view at Kunsthal KAdE

bitforms gallery opens a collaborative exhibition by Sarah Rothberg and Marina Zurkow

Puerto Rican poster archive leads sale at Swann

Lunds konsthall opens Sammy Baloji's 'Other Tales'

De Pont opens an exhibition by the Belgian artist Marijke De Roover

Casino Apps You Should Try on Your Android Device




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Attorneys
Truck Accident Attorneys
Accident Attorneys
Houston Dentist
Abogado de accidentes
สล็อต
สล็อตเว็บตรง
Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site Parroquia Natividad del Señor
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful