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{{Infobox World Heritage Site| Name = Medina of Marrakech| infoboxwidth = 250px| Image = | State_Party = | Type = Cultural| Criteria = i, ii, iv, v| ID = 331| Region = Arab States 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. Ready for the masses? - Daily Telegraph 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 medina quarter) and an adjacent modern city (called Gueliz). It is served by Menara 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.
Demographics
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 people 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.
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 TashfinIbn Idhari, al-Bayan al-Mughrib Part III, annotated Spanish translation by A. Huici Miranda, Valencia, 1963. 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 Ismail Ibn Sharif, Marrakech was the capital of Morocco. After his reign, his grandson moved the capital back to Marrakech from Meknes.
Since centuries Marrakesh is known for its 'seven saints'. When sufism was at the height of its popularity Ismail Ibn Sharif 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 Muhammad al-Jazuli and 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.
Main sights
Mosques, medrassas, synagogues and zaouias
Palaces, dars and villas
Cemeteries, koubbas and mausolea
Handicrafts and business
- Souks
- Souk Kimakhin (stringed instruments)
- Souk el Bradiia (pitchers)
- Souk Hadaddine (Metalworking)
- 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, Rug-making Souk)
- Souk Fakharina
- Souk Siyyaghin (jewelry)
- Souk Smata (slippers, belt (clothing)s)
- Souk aux tenturiers
- Cherratine Souk
- Attarine Souk
- Tanning
- Hôtel la Mamounia
- Handicraft center
- Gidel Building
- Renaissance Café
- Société Générale
- Marjane hypermarket
Museums
- Dar Si Said Museum
- Marrakech Museum
- Bert Flint Museum at Maison Tiskiwin
- Islamic Art Museum at the Majorelle Garden
City walls and gates
Places and squares
- Djemaa 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
Other structures
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 Casablanca-Marrakesh expressway 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.
People born in Marrakech
- Tahar Tamsamani (born September 10, 1980), Moroccan boxer
- Ahmed Bahja : one of the best football players in Morocco
Photo Gallery
Image:Marrakech, Saadian Tombs.JPG|The Saadian Tombs
Image:Koutoubia_Mosque,Marrakech,Morocco.jpg]
Image:Marrakech_square_night.jpg|Djemaa el Fna square by night
Image:2006_0330_203200AA.JPG]
Image:Carpets in Marrakech.JPG|Selling of carpets in the souks of Marrakech
Image:Tanneries Marrakech.JPG] of Marrakech
Image:Marrakech, Bab Agnaou.JPG|Bab Agnaou door
Image:Djemaa el Fna, evening.JPG|Djemaa el Fna at morning
Image:riad.JPG|Marrakech riad courtyard
References in popular culture
References and notes
External links
- Marrakech entry in LexicOrient
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- Google Maps
- Marrakesh city
- Marrakech guide
- Virtourist.com information
- Marrakech history
- Marrakech Official City Guide
- marrakech riads
- Marrakech French Guide
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