The African Mud Village Where Five Famous Movies Were Filmed

The African Mud Village Where Five Famous Movies Were Filmed

At first glance, it looks like an ordinary mud village. But hidden between Morocco’s Sahara Desert and the city of Marrakesh is Aït Benhaddou, an ancient settlement that has become one of the world’s most famous movie locations.

Built from mud bricks, clay, straw and wood, the centuries-old village is known for its breathtaking earthen architecture. Its timeless appearance has made it the perfect backdrop for blockbuster productions such as Gladiator, The Mummy, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Kingdom of Heaven, and the hit TV series Game of Thrones, where it was transformed into the city of Yunkai.

Although many residents have moved to nearby modern communities, a small number of families still call the historic village home.

Today, Aït Benhaddou stands as a symbol of Africa’s rich history, proving that even a quiet mud village can capture the imagination of Hollywood and millions of viewers around the world.