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Ouarzazate, Morocco
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The garrison town of Ouarzazate is a great base for exploring southern Morocco. Not only is this French-built city located at the crossroads of three rivers, it is situated at the foot of the Atlas Mountains just 4 hours from Marrakech. Journey north to Ait ben Haddou, Morocco's most spectacular ksar. Traverse the Draa Valley and visit an oasis or two. Travel east to the Dades, as the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs is formally called. And while Ouarzazate is hardly historic, it has two attractions of note. The Glaoui kasbah of Taourirt provides insight to feudal Morocco. A tour of Atlas Film Studios offers a peek at this film industry hub.
Glaoui Clan
The Glaoui clan is one of Morocco's best-known Berber tribes. This once simple band, made rich on salt, controlled much of southern Morocco until 1956. They rubbed elbows with the rich and famous and lived a lifestyle more lavish than a sultan's. So why is this clan so controversial? The Glaouis (also spelled Glaoua) were merciless rulers. They raped, pillaged and murdered. What's more, the Glaouis are regarded as traitors for their alliance with the French.
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