Ksar Haddada

This is another ksar near Tataouine. However, this one is special—it is where scenes from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace were filmed.

It is very obvious that this is where scenes from Star Wars were filmed: there is a big sign outside saying that in three different languages.

However, once inside, the actual film locations were very hard to find.

Like the other ksour, there were many ghorfas. However, these wern’t just along the outside wall with an empty square in the middle. They were also many of them inside the square, turning the ksar into a small walled city.

Many parts were just ruins.

Other parts were being re-restored. This ksar had been turned into a hotel, which closed, and is now being restored to become a hotel again. One wonders whether there are enough tourists visiting the country to support so many new hotel developments.

Qui-Gon and Shmi scene

After some searching, the filming location was found. This is where the scene where Qui-Gon Jinn was talking to Shmi Skywalker (Anakin’s mother) was filmed. It was especially hard to find, because they’ve boarded up the archways and added a new arch with the two lamps on it. Don’t they realise how significant this place is?

The camera to film the previous scene would have been placed under this archway, where the stone bar counter is now.

Qui-Gon calls Obi-Wan scene

This is the same location from a different angle. This is where Qui-Gon Jinn stands to talk with Obi-Wan Kenobi through the com-link.

There have been many new additions since when the movie was filmed: the arch, steps and parts of the building.

This is the view Qui-Gon would have seen: looking over the town and valley to the mountains. Qui-Gon would have been standing where the left side of that new arch is.

The mosque in the town can also be seen from the to of the ksar.

Shop in the ksar

The mandatory gift shop on the way out. Next: we’ve had our fill of ksour, so it’s on to see some abandoned Berber villages.