marrakech
By simois
@simois (12)
Morocco
August 29, 2007 1:57pm CST
Marrakech or Marakesh (????? Marakesh), known as the "Red City" or "Al Hamra," is a city in southwestern Morocco in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.
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.
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.
The official number of residents is one million; however, the population is estimated to be around two million. The largest part of the population of Marrakech is of Berber origin. Also, there is a very large international community consisting mainly of Europeans: especially French, estimated at 3,700 people, mostly retired. Also Germans, Italians, English and Swiss.
Further information: Demographics of Morocco
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 was the capital of Morocco. After his reign, his grandson moved the capital back to Marrakech from Meknès.
Since centuries Marrakesh is 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
Mosques, medrassas, synagogues and zaouias
Koutoubia Mosque
Ben Youssef Medrassa
Ben Youssef Mosque
Casbah Mosque
Mansouria Mosque
Bab Doukkala Mosque
Mouassine Mosque
Zaouia of Sidi Bel Abbes
Zaouia of Sidi Ben Slimane al-Jazuli
Zaouia of Sidi Youssef Ben Ali
Sidi Moulay el Ksour Mosque
Synagogue Beth-El
Synagogue Salat el Azama
Synagogue Salat Rabi Pinhasse
Palaces, dars and villas
El Badi Palace
Royal Palace (Dar el Makhzen) and méchouars
Bahia Palace
Dar Si Saïd Museum
Maison Tiskiwin
Dar el Glaoui
Villa Majorelle at the Majorelle Garden
Cemeteries, koubbas and mausolea
Saadian Tombs
Mausoleum of Ahmed el-Mansour
Second mausoleum
Koubba of Fatima Zohra and Koutoubia Mosque cemetery
Almoravid Koubba
Koubba Cadi Ayyad
Jewish cemetery
Sidi Abd el Aziz
Sidi es Suhayli
Souks
Souk Kimakhin (stringed instruments)
Souk el Bradiia (pitchers)
Souk Hadaddine (metalwork)
Souk Nahhassine (brass, copper)
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
Museums
Dar Si Saïd Museum
Marrakech Museum
Bert Flint Museum at Maison Tiskiwin
Islamic Art Museum at the Majorelle Garden
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
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
Gardens and parks
Palm Grove
Majorelle Garden
Menara gardens and olive grove
Agdal Garden
Koutoubia Mosque park at Square de Foucauld
oasiria aquatic park 4km Amzmiz road
Other structures
Chrob ou Chouf Fountain
Convention Center (Palais des Congres)
Opera House
Cadi Ayyad University
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.
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 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.
People born in Marrakech
Tahar Tamsamani (born September 10, 1980), Moroccan boxer
Famous contemporary Marrakechis
There are many cultured personnalities in Marrakech, includung singers and actors...
Abd Alah Farkous, Moroccan comedy actor, he recently appeared in "??????????,(Moul Taxi),the taxi driver" with Abd el Khalik Fahim.
Mohamed Ben Ibrahim, a famous poet, also called "???????????’(chaair al hamra), poet of the red(Marrakech)".
Hamid Zahir, Popular singer. His songs include "lalla fatima", "ahoua lik"
Abd El Jabar Lousir, comedy actor.
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