Moroccan Village Named Among World’s Best-Preserved Fortified Sites

Aït Benhaddou (Morocco) ranks fifth in the ranking of the 14 best-preserved fortified destinations in the world, established by MailOnline Travel. Located 30 km from Ouarzazate, in the Ounila valley, south of Télouet, the stronghold of the Glaoui, a valley that was a traditional passage point for the caravans connecting Marrakech to the southern Sahara, Aït Benhaddou was once nicknamed "the Mont-Saint-Michel of the Chleuhs" during the French protectorate. In 1987, this Moroccan village was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. "An ensemble of earthen buildings surrounded by defensive walls, the ksar is a type of traditional pre-Saharan habitat. The houses are grouped within its defensive walls reinforced by corner towers. Aït-Ben-Haddou, located in the province of Ouarzazate, is a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco," it is described on the UN organization’s website.

Carcassone (France) tops the ranking. "Nestled at the top of a hill, the medieval Cité dominates the entire city and is considered one of the best-preserved medieval ensembles in the world," explains Carcassonne Tourisme. This picturesque fortified medieval town, with 52 towers and 3 km (1.86 mi) of circular ramparts, is followed by Jaisalmer (India). Bonifacio (Corsica) and Briançon (France) come next. Rothenburg (Germany) takes sixth place while Pingyao occupies seventh place. Dubrovnik (Croatia) takes eighth place. It is followed by Mdina (Malta), Cartagena (Colombia), Budva (Montenegro) and Avila (Spain). Chester (United Kingdom) and Óbidos (Portugal) close the podium.