Marrakech

Presentation of the city

Marrakech counts approximately 879.049 inhabitants divided on a Surface of 6,2 km ². The density reaches the 350 inhabitants with the hectare. It is the 4th more big city of the Morocco after Casablanca, Rabat and Fès.

The city is divided into two distinct parts: the Médina or historical city (10 kilometers of enclosure) and the new city whose principal districts are called: Guéliz and Wintering . Guéliz constitutes the commercial center town today. It was rested by the French at the time of protectorate. The district of the Wintering concentrates many hotel complexes. For a few years, the city has increased in Périphérie in particular in the West with the appearance of new residential districts as for the area of Targa or the extension of the which occurred Mohammed VI . For the authorities of the city, the ceaseless urbanization of Marrakech should know a brake in the next years in order to avoid an uncontrolled growth and to remain under the bar of the 3 million hearts.

The small taxis are beige there.

Doors of Marrakech

History

Marrakech was founded into 454 of the Hégire, corresponding to the year 1062 of the Christian era , by Youssef Ibn Tachfin, first sovereign of the dynasty Almoravide.

Very quickly, in Marrakech, under the impulse of the Almoravide S, pious and austere men, of many Mosque S and Médersa S (schools of Koranic Theology) were built, as well as a shopping mall for the the Maghreb and the Black Africa. Marrakech grows quickly and was essential like an arts center and Religieux influences, of the ramparts are also built to protect the city.

The city, was then strengthened by the son of Youssef Ibn Tachfin, Ali Ben Youssef, by the construction of rampart S on several kilometers, the Architecture of the city was influenced by the Moslem Spain.

In 1147 , the Almohade S, in favor of a Islam pure and hard seized the enclosure of the city, the last exterminated Almoravide S, almost the totality of the destroyed monuments. The Almohade S built many palates and religious buildings, such as for example, celebrates it mosque of the Koutoubia built on the ruins of a palate Almoravide.

In order to feed the large palm plantation and the Garden S, a system of irrigation was sophisticated. Marrakech, by cultural radiation attracted many writer S and Artiste S, come in particular from Andalusia.

In 1269 , Marrakech was conquered by the nomads Mérinide S at the expense of the last Almohade S. When the advent of the dynasty Mérinide occurs, Marrakech fell then into a certain lethargy, and its decline involved the loss of its statute of Capitale to the profit of its large rival, Fès.

At the beginning of the 16th century , Marrakech becomes again the capital of the kingdom, quickly reached its Apogée, in particular thanks to the sultan Saadien, Mohammed El Mahdi. Of share the fortune piled up by the sultans, Marrakech was clearing, the monuments ruins some then restored and of sumptuous built palates.

Marrakech again will lose its statute of capital.

At the end of the 17th century , current the Dynastie alaouite succeeded the Saadiens. The throne is successively transferred to Fès then with Meknès, new imperial city.

At the beginning of the 20th century , Marrakech knows a few years of civil wars.

In 1912 , the introduction of the Protectorat French in Morocco puts an end to this anarchy. In 1956 , the return of Exil of the king Mohammed V will be celebrated in Marrakech as in the remainder of the country.

Climate

List districts of the city

The médina

the Médina of Marrakech constitutes the nerve center and the historical heart of the town of Marrakech. Extending on a total surface from 600 hectares, it is in the vastest fact of Morocco. Its refinement and its urban specificity rise directly from the total virginity of the ground on which it was set up at the 11th century. Articulated around a military camping, Qsar El Hajar, and by a market, it was increased by a kasbah at the 12th century in order to protect it from the repeated attacks of the Berber tribes of the plain of Haouz, thus contributing to sit durably hegemony Almoravide. The famous ramparts of the old city of Marrakech underwent important modifications with the liking of the dynasties. Thus, they with many recoveries were bored of new doors ( Bab in Arabic). Today, the height of the walls oscillates between 8 and 10 meters and extend at a total distance exceeding the 19 kilometers.

the recent passion for the Riad S, these Moroccan traditional houses articulated around a central court, generated deep sociological transformations within the médina of Marrakech, where the price of the m ² reached tops. Thus, a considerable number and crescent of modest households marrakchis are seen thorough by the speculation with " exiler" apart from the ramparts. In addition, one observes a phenomenon of thickening of the habitat within the médina. However, one is far from attending a museification of the médina, far is necessary oneself some. Actually, tourist success growing of Marrakech durably reinvigorated the médina by attracting many young people within the mazes of the médina. Thus, it would seem that more than 40000 craftsmen there work, distributed in the various districts sets of themes organizing the médina geographically.

the Mellah, in the south is médina, was and remains today still to a lesser extent the Jewish district of Marrakech. Far from being a ghetto, the mellah gathered certain trade associations which with the wire and measurement of the history of Marrakech, became specialities of this community (the trade of Tisserand was an example of this phenomenon). It was founded in 1558 under the reign of Moulay Abdellah near the palate what allowed, as it was the case with Fès for example, with the Sultan to better protect them.

the Jardins of Agdal being next to by the south the Palais Royal were created as of 1156 according to the official historian of the dynasty almohade by El Haj Ya' is, that one even which was at the origin of prestigious Koutoubia. The " term; aguedal" meaning " in addition; jardin" in a general way by the Berber ones, this name of Gardens of Aguedal was essential like exclusive name only towards the end of the 18th century. Its existence, setting with evil by time is closely related to the astute management of the hydraulic resources which is made there. Thus, the collecting of water of the underground layers was as of the end of the 11th century ensured by a dense network of " khetarras" , assisted later by a more elaborate system of viaducts coming from Aghmat, city southernmost in direction of the Valley of Ourika. Lastly, the storage of rainwater was ensured by two immense tanks of which largest, baptized Es Salted, was used for the drive of the troops to swimming for the crossing of the Straits of Gibraltar.

Guéliz

The district of Gueliz draws its name from Jbel Gueliz, solid mass of sandstone of low altitude located at the North-West of old the médina to the Berber name. It was the first district located outside the ramparts, formerly reserved at the late ones. Articulated around the current Avenue Mohammed V uniting the Public garden Foucault and Bab Nkob in Jbel Gueliz, the district of Gueliz concentrates the majority of the banks and the shops of Marrakech. The post office, located place of November 16th, is also a building dating from the time protectorale, as well as the old market of Guéliz which was recently moved to yield place to an commercial arcade. Imposing Marrakech Plaza located opposite the post office, places of November 16th accommodates and will accommodate soon a certain number of European signs of the mode and ready-made clothes (Zara, Etam…). The whole of the district of Gueliz having been classified by the wilaya real zone R+ 5, one witnesses a massive and fast destruction of the near total of the villas inherited the time protectorale accompanied by an intense real estate speculation

The Wintering

Located at the south of Gueliz, the district of the Wintering is a sheltering district of the villas cossues and many hotel complexes such as the Sofitel, the Sheraton to only quote most prestigious. The lung of the district of the Wintering is the Mohammed VI avenue, which occurred in the past of France, and recently prolonged until joining in south-east the road of Ourika along the ramparts of Agdal. This broad and green avenue shelters imposing it Royal Théâtre, the Palate of the Congresses, as well as the future station.

Along the prolongation of the Mohammed VI avenue

Although coldly inaugurated in May 2004, the section of 5 km of the avenue Mohammed VI connecting the avenue of Ménara to the road of Ourika sees quickly developing many residential and hotel complexes of high standing. In addition, it is the Mohammed VI length which was built the largest discotheque of Africa, the Pasha of Marrakech, establishment having made it possible Marrakech definitively to acquire its new statute of place of appointment of connected youth and the " clubbers". Lastly, it is here that the first multiplexing of Marrakech was built, Mégarama, thus succeeding both " grands" cinemas of Marrakech that furant Colisée with Gueliz, and the Rif Cinema, in Daoudiate.

Economy

The economy of Marrakech rests primarily on the Tourisme, the trade and the craft industry. The hotel infrastructure knew these last years a rapid growth. It should be noted that Marrakech from now on is connected by highway to the Moroccan economic capital, Casablanca, and this since April 2007. Southern part, another section highway Marrakech- Agadir of 233 km will be put in servicing 2009. A line TGV connecting the city to Casablanca east being studied for the horizon 2015, to be then prolonged towards Agadir.

Tourism

The city is a tourist high-place, more than two million tourists each year. It is also the starting point of many excursions for the hikers eager to traverse the Atlas or the desert more in the south.

Monuments and tourist sites

Festivals

Festival of popular arts of Marrakech, annual festival being held in July.
International festival of film of Marrakech, annual event at the beginning of December to reward the best Moroccan and foreign production for long and court-measurings. This one has a growing notoriety, recognized by the whole world.
Festival Awaln' art: international meetings of Arts of street of Marrakech, by the Company Glares of the Moon. The meetings take place simultaneously with Tahanaoute, Has Ourir, Aghmat, Amizmiz and Marrakech. Awaln' Art is also claimed to be a catalyst of local development, cultural and tourist for the province of Al Haouz.
Samaa Festival of the sacred musics, annual festival being held in July.

Curiosities around Marrakech

Sports

Football clubs

Others

aeroexpo:International fair of industries and services aeronautical
Marathon of Marrakech;
International festival of film;
Festival of the magic;
Festival of popular arts;
Khmissa : demonstration which rewards the women who illustrated themselves during the year in various fields;
the spring of poetry;
Riad art expo: professional living room of Moroccan art of living;
Garden' art: festival of the art of the garden which aims to bring together artists, landscape designers, architects, professionals and amateurs of the garden with a broad place devoted to environmental education and the ecotourism;
Women off africa festival: this festival celebrates the actions of the woman on the cultural, economic and artistic level through the African continent;
Caftan 2007 : revealing of talents and styles, this procession is the appointment impossible to circumvent of the Moroccan haute couture;
the festival of French-speaking humor;
the festival of the spring of the Moroccan song.

List personalities of Marrakech

See also: List of the personalities of Marrakech

Twinnings and cooperation agreements

Twinning :

(May 18th)

Cooperation agreements :

Gallery photographs

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