Where Were ‘The Ten Commandments’ Filmed?
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The Ten Commandments is a biblical film which was released in 1956. The nearly four hour epic follows the life of Moses, who eventually presented the Ten Commandments to the Israelites. The movie was directed by Cecil B. DeMille, is extremely popular and is commonly referred to as one of the most popular chronicles of biblical history. That is, other than the more recent popular show, The Chosen. The ambitious film even had impressive filming locations that broke records and provided a more historically accurate portrayal. The special effects and theatrical dialogue of The Ten Commandments are a big part of its appeal, but the visual story is the most compelling aspect of the religious film. Travelers may be surprised to discover where The Ten Commandments was filmed. Explore the filming destinations of The Ten Commandments while exploring the journey of Moses.
Guadalupe, California
Key Scenes: City of Pharaohs set
Best Time to Visit: December to May for best weather
Transportation Options: Amtrak train or local buses
Guadalupe, California is a major filming location for the movie. In fact, it is where most of The Ten Commandments was filmed. The dunes of Guadalupe served as the grounds for the largest set in movie history. The set spanned 720 X 120 feet (10 acres) and created a realistic and immersive setting for the narrative. The City of the Pharaoh was the name of the set that was built by the film’s production team. Guadalupe open hilly land served as the perfect backdrop for the large set that was larger than life.
Travelers can technically still view the Guadalupe set of The Ten Commandments. After filming ended around the 1920s, the set was dismantled and buried in the dunes. Almost 70 years later, in 1983, some film fans found the buried set. Since then, archeologists have unearthed the set. Now, the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center has exhibits that feature artifacts from the once-concealed remains of the massive film set. For travelers who want to discover the cultural history of the area and learn more about the momentous film, visiting the center is a great way to spend their time.
Things to Do: The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve and Oso Flaco Lake are the most popular nature attractions in Guadalupe.
Where to Eat: Jocko’s Steak House, The Hitching Post, The Swiss Restaurant and Cool Hand Luke are the top rated restaurants in Guadalupe, California.
Where to Stay: There are plenty of rustic accommodations for visitors of Guadalupe. Within around 10 miles of the Guadalupe Dunes there is the Pacific Dunes Ranch Campground, Pacific Plaza Resort and the Kaleidoscope Inn.
Abu Rudeis, Egypt
Key Scenes: background for parting of the Red Sea
Best Time to Visit: December to March for cooler weather
Transportation Options: bus, taxi or car
Abu Rudeis does not have a recognizable presence in the film, but nevertheless it was used for filming The Ten Commandments. Since it seemingly did not play a very significant part in the majority of the movie, fans may not notice much from the destination. In fact, out of the Egypt filming locations Abu Rudeis is technically used the least. But travelers can still visit Abu Rudeis to follow in the footsteps of the cast and crew of “The Ten Commandments” to immerse themselves into where the movie was filmed.
The city has plenty to offer to travelers. The Egyptian sun, of course, gives visitors a nice environment to explore the area. With temperatures between 70 and 95 degrees year round, visiting movie fans will not miss out on the top local attractions. The most popular things to do around Abu Rudeis are windsurfing, kitesurfing, diving and swimming with dolphins. The natural environment is stunning so travelers should indulge in fun outdoor activities to get familiar with the local culture.
Things to Do: Travelers should be sure to cool down in the ocean water and explore the area. The top beaches include Mahmya Beach and Naama Bay.
Where to Eat: There are an assortment of popular local spots around Abu Rudeis. One of the top rated places to eat is the Paradise Cafe.
Where to Stay: The Coral Sea Beach & Aqua Park and Porto South Beach Resort Chalet are two of the top rated accommodations in the Abu Rudeis area.
Red Rock Canyon State Park, California
Key Scenes: outdoor scenes
Best Time to Visit: April to May or September to October for best weather
Transportation Options: taxis or rideshare
This location in Cantil, California served as background to the moving story of Moses. The state park spans over 27,000 acres. The scenic desert destination was an ideal backdrop that stood in for the real biblical settings. Due to its high elevation and rugged landscape, it served as the perfect place to depict Moses leading his people out of Egypt. It was one of the great open spaces where The Ten Commandments was filmed. Travelers who visit can enjoy the cliffs and canyons of Red Rock Canyon State Park. There are colorful hills that seem to go on forever. It is a popular destination for recreational activities like hiking, scenic drives, climbing, camping and biking.
Things to Do: Travelers visiting the Red Rock Canyon State Park can take hiking tours, self guided biking tours and even scooter car adventures to sightsee in the area.
Where to Eat: There are plenty of places to eat around Red Rock Canyon State Park since it is near the metropolitan area of Las Vegas (around 20 miles away). The top restaurants are Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, Lindo Michoacan and Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-que.
Where to Stay: Some of the most luxurious hotels near Red Rock Canyon State Park are closer to the big city. But there are also highly rated places to stay near the park. The Cliffs at Peace Canyon, Suncoast Hotel and Casino and Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa are the top rated accommodations within 10 miles of the park.
Ras Safsafa, Egypt
Key Scenes: Moses receiving ten commandments
Best Time to Visit: for hiking, September to May
Transportation Options: bus, taxi or car
Ras Safsafa is located in South Sinai, Egypt. Mount Sinai is a biblical place of importance. It is a site that is significant to multiple religions including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. There are varying theories on whether or not Ras Safsafa is the modern-day location where the Israelites embarked on a pilgrimage with Moses. But many people think that Ras Safsafa is the biblical Sinai mountain (although the whole range is named Mount Sinai and Ras Safsafa is simply one its peaks). Ras Safsafa is the generally accepted destination where some believe that Moses received the Ten Commandments. So, this site is clearly an important place to depict in the movie. In fact, the production team got clearance to film at Ras Safsafa because it was so important to them (and the director) to have as much historical accuracy as possible.
Things to Do: Sunset at Ras Safsafa is a stunning sight to see and very popular, so many visitors time their visits carefully. Hiking is the most popular activity in this mountainous area, especially if travelers want to get a good view of the sunset.
Where to Eat: There are plenty of places near Mount Sinai where travelers can get a taste of local Egyptian cuisine or other types of foods. El Kababgy, Café Chino and Boharat Restaurant are some of the top rated options.
Where to Stay: This area of Egypt has some great resorts for travelers to spend time in. St. Catherine’s Monastery Guesthouse, Morgenland Village and Bedouin Village are popular picks all within a few miles of Mount Sinai.
Paramount Studios, Los Angeles
Key Scenes: general special effects but especially the parting of the Red Sea (also some miscellaneous interior shots)
Best Time to Visit: during the week for more buzz
Transportation Options: buses are convenient
The Hollywood Paramount Studios was the place where the movie magic took place. The visuals of The Ten Commandments were incredibly impressive for the time the movie was released. So, of course, some special effects were needed to make the movie come to life. This is particularly true of the scene where Moses parts the Red Sea to lead his people away from Egypt. This majorly important scene was put together with a mix of different shots. Those included on-location shots, scenes shot at Paramount Studios and VistaVision filming techniques. Constructing the scene to look realistic took about six months. The scenes at the studio entailed a large U-shaped water tank. Nearly 360,000 gallons of water being strategically released from its sides. Travelers that are interested in the logistics of the film’s production can take tours of the studio to explore where The Ten Commandments was filmed.
Things to Do: Travelers visiting Paramount Studios are encouraged to take immersive tours that delve into the history of the property and film culture. Touring visitors get inside peeks of iconic locations from famous shows and motion pictures.
Where to Eat: Cafe Gratitude Larchmont, Osteria Mamma and Kali Restaurant are some of the highest rated restaurants within a mile of Paramount.
Where to Stay: Dream Hollywood by Hyatt, Mamma Shelter Los Angeles and Thompson Hollywood are all centrally located accommodations within two miles of Paramount.
