Marrakech or
Marrakesh (
Amazigh: Murakush,
Arabic مراكش Murrākush), known as the "Red City", is an important and
former imperial city in
Morocco. It has a population of 1,070,838 (as of 2004), and is the capital of the mid-southwestern economic region of
Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, near the foothills of the snow-capped
Atlas Mountains.
Like many
North African and
Middle Eastern cities, Marrakech comprises 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 airport) and a rail link to
Casablanca and the north. Marrakech is the third largest city in
Morocco after
Casablanca and
Rabat.
Marrakech has the largest traditional market (
souk) in Morocco and also has one of the busiest squares in
Africa and the world,
Djemaa el Fna. The square bustles with acrobats, story-tellers, water sellers, dancers, and musicians. By night, the square turns into food stalls, becoming a huge open-air restaurant with busy life.
Name
The probable origin of its name is from the Amazigh (
Berber) words mur (n) akush, which means "Land of God". (The root "mur" is used now in the Berber languages mostly in the feminine form "tamurt"). The same word "mur" appears in the country Mauritania, but this interpretation is still unproven to this day.
Until a few decades ago, Morocco was known as Kingdom of Marrakech by Arabs, Persians and Europeans. The European names of Morocco, Marruecos, Maroc, Marokko are directly derived from the Berber word Murakush. The city is spelled "Marrakech" in French, "Marrakech" or "Marrakesh" in English, "Marrakesch" in German and "Marakeş" in Turkish.
HistoryPrior 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 chose to build a new capital. He decided to build it in the plains near the
Tansift river. He chose the site of Marrakech, because it was 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. 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 was the capital of
Morocco. After his reign, his grandson moved the capital back to Marrakech from
Meknès.
For centuries Marrakech has been known for its 'seven saints.' When
sufism was at the height of its popularity, during the reign of
Moulay Ismail, the festival of the 'seven saints' was founded by
Abu Ali al-Hassan al-Yusi at the request of the sultan. The tombs of several renowned figures were moved to Marrakech to attract pilgrims in the same way
Essaouira did at that time with its Regrega festivals. The 'seven saints' (sebaatou rizjel) is now a firmly established institution, attracting visitors from everywhere. The seven saints include
Sidi Bel Abbas (the patron saint of the city),
Sidi Muhammad al-Jazuli,
Sidi Abu al-Qasim Al-Suhayli,
Cadi Ayyad ben Moussa,
Abdelaziz al-Tebaa and
Abdallah al-Ghazwani.
Marrakech was dominated in the first half of the 20th century by
T'hami El Glaoui, Lord of the Atlas and
Pasha of Marrakech. The poet of the city was
Mohammed Ben Brahim, his favorite place was café Al-Masraf. The poems and songs of
Ben Brahim are still known by heart by many Marrakshi.
DemographicsMarrakech had an official number of population of 1,070,838 in 2004. There is a very large international community consisting mainly of Europeans estimated at 10,700 people, mostly retired.
Further information:
Demographics of MoroccoMain sights in MarrakechMany 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
Essaouira on the
Atlantic ocean.
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.
Marrakech is the southern terminus of the
ONCF, the Moroccan railway network, and Marrakech is well served by trains heading to
Tangier,
Rabat, Casablanca, and
Fes. 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.
Dynasty.The design of these courtyard dwellings in the coastal regions of Morocco were an adaption and modification of the Roman villa. When the Almoravids conquered Spain in the 11th century they sent Muslim, Christian and Jewish artisans from Spain to Morocco to work on monuments.These artisans brought with them the idea of arranging the rooms of the house around the central open-air courtyard that has become today's riads.The riads were inward focused which allowed for family privacy and protection from the weather in Morocco. This inward focus was expressed in the central location of most of the interior gardens and courtyards and the lack of large windows on the exterior clay or mud brick walls. Entrance
to these houses is a major transitional experience and encourages reflection because all of the rooms open into the central atrium space. In the central garden of traditional riads there are often four orange or lemon trees and possibly a fountain. The walls of the riads are adorned with tadelakt plaster and zellige tiles. The style of these riads has changed over the years, but the basic form is still used in designs today. Recently there has been a surge in interest in this form of house after a new vogue of renovation in towns such as Marrakech or Essaouira. Many riads are now used as hotels or restaurants.