Marrakesh

Old town (Medina):

Most attractions of Marrakech are located within the old city walls - a circuit of about 16 km. The central point of the city is Djemaa El-Fna, the main square of Marrakesh where everything starts and ends. La Place (as the premises call it) is the heart of the city and is always filled and very busy.

When the sun sets, the big square turns into an open restaurant with dozens of food stalls with small party lights. snake charmers, henna artists but also storytellers fill the square till into the small hours. In the old days, executions took place in the now very pleasant square - hence the name, which means literally Square of Death. Around the square is one of the great bazaars (souqs) of Morocco - small narrow streets with stalls full of spices but also clothing, jewelery and small restaurants. 

South of Djemaa El-Fna is the striking Koutoubia minaret that stands out where ever you’re standing in Marrakesh. Built in the 12th century with a mix of Spanish (Andalucia) and Moroccan styles, this is one of the finest in the country with its decorative panels. Around the tower that once belonged to a whole mosque you can make a beautiful evening walk.

The largest mosque within the old city walls is the Ali Ben Youssef which characterizes the religious heart in the Medina. Built in the 12th century by the then Almoravid sultan, this is one of the oldest still standing mosques including Medersa of the city. Especially the Medersa - technical school - is beautiful with its stucco work. Nearby you will find the Koubba Ba'adiyn and the museum of Marrakesh.

Outside the Medina:

Just south of the Medina you can find the El Badi palace, now a ruin. Once this palace was the most beautiful in the world; it was built in the 16th century by Ahmed al-Mansour. Unfortunately, the palace was stripped and you can now see only a small part of the gigantic complex it once was.

Not far from the palace you enter the old Jewish quarter Mellah where still a few hundred Jews live. In the same kasbah you will find the Saadi tombs that fortunately were not destroyed.

Probably Moulay Ismail was superstitious and left the dead alone. This last resting place was actually meant for the sheriff, the descendants of the Prophet Mohammed. Now there are the Saadi princessen and Ahmed al-Mansour buried. Another interesting palace in the neighborhood is the Bahia palace. 

Other attractions:

• The Majorelle garden including the museum of Islamic art but also the station of Marrakesh is a beautiful building.

In 1070 the Almoravids founded the city and made it the capital of their empire and it became one of the most important Islamic centers in the field of art and culture. Most of the riches came from the conquered Spain. In addition to palaces, mosques and bath houses, a very extensive underground network of irrigation canals was installed.

In 1147 the city was almost completely destroyed by the Almohads; only the city wall and parts of the palace were spared. Marakesh would be rebuilt by the victorious Merinids largely by coasters from Andalusia, Spain. The city would remain the capital of the area, until the Merinids chose Fez as the capital over Marrakech in the year 1269.

Together with the good irrigation possibilities with water from the surrounding mountains, the location was a popular spot. Around 1162, Abd el-Moumen ordered the building of a mosque: the Koutoubia Mosque. The city had a population of more than 200,000 people in the 13th century, making it one of the largest cities in the world. 

With the rising mighty Saadians, Marakkesh became a capital again in the 16th century. Again, palaces and baths were added to the city's already rich arsenal. The city degenerated in the 19th century. At the time of the French protectorate of Morocco (1912-1956) a new city center was built outside the old city walls Gueliz. Hotels, offices and other (modern) buildings are barred from the Medina or old city center, but concentrated in the new neighborhoods such as Gueliz and Hivernage. The old center, around the Djemaa el Fna square and Koutoubia Mosque is therefore well preserved.

Today, many old houses in the historic city have undergone a metamorphosis, many museums have been built. Tourism has an important influence on Marrakesh.