Marrakech

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Please improve this article if you can. (October 2006)

Coordinates: 31°38′N, 8°0′W

Medina of Marrakech*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Image:Koutoubia.JPG
Type Cultural
Criteria i, ii, iv, v
Reference 331
Region† Arab States
Inscription history
Inscription 1985  (9th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List.
† Region as classified by UNESCO.
For the record label, see Marrakesh Records.

Marrakech or Marrakesh (مراكش Marrakesh), known as the "Red City" or "Al Hamra," is a city with a population of 1.036.500(2006) in southwestern Morocco in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Marrakesh is also known as "The City of Gold."

Contents

[edit] Name

The possible origin of its name could be from the Tamazight (Berber) words mur (n) akuch, which means Land of God. (The root "mur" is nowadays in the Berber languages used only in the feminine form "tamurt"). The same word "mur/mawr" appears in the country Mauritania, but this interpretation is still unproved to this day, and there are other possibilities that are often invoked.
Image:002 31A.JPG
Marrakech
The name Morocco itself derives from Murrakush. This city is the capital of the Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz region.

Marrakech has the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco and also has the busiest square in the entire continent of Africa, called Djemaa el Fna.[1] The square bustles with acrobats, story-tellers, water sellers, dancers and musicians by day; and food stalls by night, becoming a huge open-air restaurant.

Like many North African and Middle Eastern cities, Marrakech comprised both an old fortified city (the médina) and an adjacent modern city (called Gueliz). It is served by Ménara International Airport (RAK is the code for the city) and a rail link to Casablanca and the north.

The city is called "Marrakech" in French, "Marrakesh" in English, and "Marrakesch" in German.

[edit] Demographics

Marrakech has a population of 1.036.500 in 2006.

Panoramic picture of the Djemaa el Fna square at sunset. Koutoubia Mosque appears on the extreme left. The souks are in the alleys behind the square

The official number of residents is one million; however, the population is estimated to be around two million. Also, there is a very large international community consisting mainly of Europeans: especially French, estimated at 10,700 people, mostly retired. Also Germans, Italians, English and Swiss.

Further information: Demographics of Morocco

[edit] History

Main article: History of Morocco

Marrakesh is the second largest city in Morocco after Casablanca, and was known to early travellers as "Morocco City." Prior to the advent of the Almoravids in the 11th century, the area was ruled from the city of Aghmat. The Almoravid leader, Abu-Bakr Ibn-Umar decided Aghmat was becoming overcrowded and decided to build a new capital. Being a nomad from the Sahara Desert, he decided to build it in a plain, away from the mountains and rivers, and chose the site of Marrakech as being in neutral territory between two tribes who were vying for the honor of hosting the new capital. Work started in May 1070, but Abu-Bakr was recalled to the Sahara to put down a rebellion in January 1071, and the city was completed by his deputy and eventual successor Yusuf ibn Tashfin[2]. The city experienced its greatest period under the leadership of Yacoub el Mansour, the third Almohad sultan. A number of poets and scholars entered the city during his reign, and he began the construction of the Koutoubia Mosque and a new kasbah.

Prior to the reign of Moulay Ismail, Marrakech has been the capital of Morocco. After his reign, his grandson moved the capital back to Marrakech from Meknès.

For centuries Marrakesh has been known for its 'seven saints'. When sufism was at the height of its popularity Moulay Ismail decided to move the tombs of several renowned figures to Marrakesh to attract pilgrims in the same way Essaouira did at that time with its Regrega festivals. The 'seven saints' (sebta rizjel) is now a firmly established institution, attracting visitors from everywhere. The seven saints include Sidi Muhammad al-Jazuli and Sidi Abu al-Qasim Al-Suhayli.

It was dominated in the first half of the 20th century by T'hami El Glaoui, Lord of the Atlas and Pasha of Marrakesh.

[edit] Main sights

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[edit] Mosques, madrassas, synagogues and zaouias

[edit] Palaces, dars and villas

[edit] Cemeteries, koubbas and mausolea

[edit] Handicrafts and business

Image:Souks.jpg
The Souks
  • Souks
    • Souk Kimakhin (stringed instruments)
    • Souk el Bradiia (pitchers)
    • Souk Hadaddine (metalwork)
    • Souk Chouari (basketry, woodturning)
    • Dyers' Souk, Wool Souk
    • Souk Smarine (clothing)
    • Rahba Quedima ("Old Square")
    • Souk el Kebir (leatherwork)
      • Kissarias
      • Souk el Batna (skins)
      • Souk el Maazi (goatskin)
    • Souk Zrabia (Criée Berbère, Carpet Souk)
    • Souk Fakharina
    • Souk Siyyaghin (jewelry)
    • Souk Smata (slippers, belts)
    • Souk aux tenturiers
    • Cherratine Souk
    • Attarine Souk
  • Tanneries
  • Hôtel la Mamounia
  • Handicraft center
  • Gidel Building
  • Renaissance Café
  • Société Générale
  • Marjane hypermarket

[edit] Museums

  • Dar Si Saïd Museum
  • Marrakech Museum
  • Bert Flint Museum at Maison Tiskiwin
  • Islamic Art Museum at the Majorelle Garden

[edit] City walls and gates

  • Defensive wall
  • Gates
    • Bab Debbagh
    • Bab Agnaou
    • Bab el Khémis
    • Bab er Robb
    • Bab el Jédid
    • Bab Doukkala
    • Bab Aghmat
    • Bab Nkob
    • Bab er Raha
    • Bab Aylen
    • Bab Ahmar
    • Bab Ighli
    • Bab Ksiba
    • Bab ech Charia
    • Bab el Makhzen
    • Bab Berrima
    • Bab Taghzout
    • Bab er Rharaza
    • Bab Fteuh

[edit] Places and squares

  • Place Djemaâ el Fna: the biggest square in the African continent.
  • Square Charles de Foucauld
  • Place de la Liberté
  • Place du 16 Novembre
  • Place des Ferblantiers
  • Place Youssef Ben Tachfine
  • Place Mourabiten
  • square Bir Anzaran

[edit] Gardens and parks

[edit] Other structures

[edit] Trips from Marrakech

Many tourists take a trip from Marrakech to visit the valley of the Ourika River in the Atlas Mountains or the valley of the Draa River in the south near the Sahara desert, but also to Middle Atlas Mountains: Waterfalls of Beni Mellal, and to the Essaouira on the Atlantic ocean.

[edit] Transport

Menara International Airport serves as the main airport for the city and receives flights from Europe and neighboring Arab countries.

A toll-paying motorway connects Marrakech with Casablanca.

CTM coaches (intercity buses) and various private lines run services to most notable Moroccan towns as well as a number of European cities, from the Gare Routière on Rue Bab Doukkala in downtown Marrakech.

Marrakesh is the southern terminus of the ONCF, the Moroccan railway network, and Marrakesh is well served by trains heading to Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, and Fez. The train station is located on Avenue Hassan II.

The ONCF owned "Supratours" bus company serves towns not served by the train. The bus timetable coordinates with the train timetable and the bus terminal is right beside the station.

[edit] People born in Marrakech

  • Tahar Tamsamani (born September 10, 1980), Moroccan boxer
  • Ahmed Bahja : one of the best football players in Morocco


[edit] Photo Gallery

Marrakech, Saadian Tombs.JPG

The Saadian Tombs

Koutoubia Mosque,Marrakech,Morocco.jpg

The Koutoubia Mosque

Marrakech square night.jpg

Djemaa el Fna square by night

2006 0330 203200AA.JPG

Food being served at Djemaa el Fna

MoroccoMarrakech townfromhill.jpg

A view from a hill

MoroccoMarrakech cityHall.jpg

City hall

Carpets in Marrakech.JPG

Selling of carpets in the souks of Marrakech

Tanneries Marrakech.JPG

Tanneries of Marrakech

Marrakech, Bab Agnaou.JPG

Bab Agnaou door

Djemaa el Fna, evening.JPG

Djemaa el Fna at morning

Riad.JPG

Marrakech riad courtyard

Marrakesh, devensive wall.jpg

Defensive wall

[edit] References in popular culture

[edit] References and notes

  1. ^ Ready for the masses? - Daily Telegraph
  2. ^ Ibn Idhari, Al-bayan al-mughrib Part III, annotated Spanish translation by A. Huici Miranda, Valencia, 1963

[edit] External links

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Marrakech
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World Heritage Sites in Morocco

Archaeological Site of Volubilis · Historic City of Meknes · Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou · Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) · Medina of Fes el Bali  · Medina of Marrakech · Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin) · Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida)

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