Located in the Ounila Valley, between Marrakesh and the Sahara, this atmospheric town is famed for its 11th-century ksar (fortified village), which centuries ago was a thriving stop on the caravan routes which crossed the Sahara. Constructed of rammed earth, adobe, clay bricks, and wood, its buildings cling to the side of a hill and offer. Just a small handful of families live there now (most instead inhabit a more modern village just across the dried up bed of the Ounila River), but it’s a favorite stop for tour groups and independent travelers alike, drawn by its evocative window back into the medieval past. And that vibe has also drawn the film and television industry, which has used it as a backdrop for some 18 productions over the past 60 years, from Sodom and Gemorrah to Game of Thrones.

Read more in my post Venturing into Morocco's Sahara Desert.