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Marrakech

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Marrakech:Marrakech location
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Marrakech location
Marrakech:Panoramic picture of the Djemaa el Fna square by sunset. Koutoubia Mosque appears on the extreme left. The souks are in the alleys behind the square.
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Panoramic picture of the Djemaa el Fna square by sunset. Koutoubia Mosque appears on the extreme left. The souks are in the alleys behind the square.

Marrakech or Marakesh (مراكش Murrakush), known as the "Red City or Al Hamra," is a city in southwestern Morocco in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. One of 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 only used in the feminine form "tamurt"). The same word "mur/mawr" appears in the country Mauritania, but this interpretation is still unproven to this day, and there are other possibilities which are often invoked. The name Morocco itself derives from Murrakush. This city is located at 31°37′60″N, 8°0′0″W and 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.

Like many North African and Middle Eastern cities, Marrakech has two main divisions: the old city (médina) and the modern city.

Marrakech is served by Ménara International Airport.


Contents

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Morocco

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.

History

Main article: History of Morocco

Yusuf ibn Tashfin, member of the Almoravides dynasty, founded the city in 1062.

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.

Sites

Areas and neighbourhoods

Mosques, medrassas, synagogues and zaouias

Palaces, dars and villas

Cemeteries, koubbas and mausolea

Handicrafts and business

Museums

City walls and gates

Places and squares

Gardens and parks

Other structures

Trips from Marrakech

Many tourists take a trip from Marrakesh 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.

Born in Marrakech

Famous contemporary Marrakechis

There are many cultured personnalities in Marrakech, includung singers and actors...

The Saadian Tombs
The Koutoubia Mosque
Djemaa el Fna square by night
Food being served at Djemaa el Fna
A view from a hill
City hall
Selling of carpets in the souks of Marrakech
Tanneries of Marrakech
Bab Agnaou door
Djemaa el Fna at morning
Marrakech riad courtyard

More images on Tim Fearn's Flickr site: [1]

Marrakech:Flag of Morocco
World Heritage Sites in Morocco

Archaeological Site of Volubilis | Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou | Mazagan (El Jadida) | Medina of Essaouira | Medina de Fes (Fes el Bali) | Medina of Marrakech | Medina of Tetouan | Meknes

Categories


Cleanup from October 2006 | World Heritage Sites in Morocco | Marrakech | Cities in Morocco | 1062 establishments | University towns

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