Ouarzazate sits just south of the High Atlas Mountains, at the point where the road from Marrakech descends onto the pre-Saharan plateau. Its name is closely associated with cinema — Atlas Studios here is one of the largest film studio complexes in the world, and the surrounding kasbah architecture and desert light have drawn productions for decades — but for most travelers it functions primarily as a waypoint on the road to the Sahara.
The Taourirt Kasbah, a former residence of the Glaoui family who controlled much of southern Morocco in the early 20th century, is the town’s main historic sight. More significant for most itineraries is Ouarzazate’s location: Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco’s best-preserved fortified village, is about 30 minutes away, and the road continuing east through the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge is the standard route toward Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Because of this position, Ouarzazate appears on most Marrakech-to-Merzouga itineraries as a stop rather than a final destination, though it can also serve as its own starting point for travelers already in the south of Morocco.