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This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia\'s quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (October 2006) |
| Medina of Marrakech* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, ii, iv, v |
| Reference | 331 |
| Region† | Islam |
| 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 (as of 2006) in southwestern Morocco, near the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.
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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.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 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.
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. Also, there is a very large international community consisting mainly of Europeans: especially French, estimated at 10,700 people, mostly retired. Additionally there are Germans, Italians, English and Swiss.
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 Moulay Ismail, Marrakech was 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, during the reign 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 Marrakesh to attract pilgrims in the same way Essaouira did at that time with its Regrega festivals. The \'seven saints\' (sebaa rizjel) is now a firmly established institution, attracting visitors from everywhere. The seven saints include Sidi Muhammad al-Jazuli, Sidi Abu al-Qasim Al-Suhayli and Cadi Ayyad ben Moussa.
Marrakech was dominated in the first half of the 20th century by T\'hami El Glaoui, Lord of the Atlas and Pasha of Marrakesh.
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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.
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.
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
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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 |
Marrakech riad courtyard |
Marrakesh, devensive wall.jpg
Wall to the king\'s gardens |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
| World Heritage Sites in Morocco | |
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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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