Marrakech Totally Explained

Everything about Marrakesh totally explained

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.

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.
   This city is the capital of the Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz region. Marrakech has the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco and also has one of the busiest squares in Africa, Djemaa el Fna. 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 spelled "Marrakech" in French, "Marrakesh" in English, and "Marrakesch" in German.

History

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. 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' (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 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.

Demographics

Marrakech had a population of 1,036,500 in 2006. The official number of residents is one million. Also, there's 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 sights in Marrakech

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 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.

People born in Marrakech

Mordechai Vanunu (born October 13, 1954), Whistleblower of Israel's nuclear weapons program
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|The Koutoubia Mosque Image:Marrakech_square_night.jpg|Djemaa el Fna square by night
   Image:MoroccoMarrakech townfromhill.jpg|A view from a hill
   Image:MoroccoMarrakech cityHall.jpg|City hall Image:Marrakech, Bab Agnaou.JPG|city gate Bab Agnaou
   Image:Djemaa el Fna, evening.JPG|Djemaa el Fna at morning
   Image:riad.JPG|Marrakech riad courtyard
   Image:Marrakesh, devensive wall.jpg|Wall of Agdal Gardens

References in popular culture

"Marrakesh Express" is a song by Crosby, Stills and Nash.

"Marrakesh Night Market" is a song by Loreena McKennitt on her album The Mask and Mirror.

Alfred Hitchcock filmed the opening scenes of The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) on location in Marrakech with Doris Day and James Stewart.

"Marrakech" is a song by ATB.

In the PC game Dope Wars, players are offered a bargain deal on Hashish when the "Marrakech Express" arrives

Mentioned briefly in a conversation during the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark.

"Marrakesh" is also a song by New Model Army.

The "Morocco" episode of the British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous is set in Marrakech. The episode was first broadcast in February 1994.

The Extra Glenns (John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats fame and Franklin Bruno of Nothing Painted Blue fame) have a song titled "Going to Marrakesh" on their album Martial Arts Weekend.

Marrakech doubled for 1920s Egypt in the 1999 film The Mummy

Marrakech appeared in the 2000 game-of-the-year No One Lives Forever. It appeared in the first mission in the first three stages.

Mentioned in passing in episode 8 of The Venture Bros., Mid-Life Chrysalis as Team Venture's intended destination before being grounded.

References and notes

Further Information

Get more info on 'Marrakesh'.

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