The most famous imperial city of Morocco owes its international reputation to the undeniable magic which emerges at first sight. Marrakech was, thus, renamed the “Pearl of the South”… Encircled by Red imposing ramparts, the cradle of the almoravide dynasty enjoys glorious vestiges, palate, medersas and mosques. It is also in the middle of a prestigious natural landscapes composed of the High-Atlas mountains where culminates the highest mountain in North Africa, Toubkal with 4167 meters high, of valleys, throats, sources and small villages. These assets makes this area one of the most preferred region of Moroccan and foreign tourists.
Monuments
Koutoubia: The Koutoubia mosque construction, or mosque of the booksellers, was begun under the Almoravides Berber dynasty in 1120, but was deeply altered starting 1162 under the governance Abu Yusuf Yaqub Al-Mansur, and became one of the most famous mosques of this style. Its name comes from the fact that it was located in the souk of manuscripts merchants.
Koutoubia is made out of superior stone and an interior staircase reaches covered rooms with cupolas. The booksellers mosque sill owns a splendid minbar made in 1137 in Cordoue.
Located a few kilometres away from Marrakech, the Menara is the most important olive grove of the city, extending on more than a hundred hectare. In the center of this garden, a basin was arranged to collect water coming from mountains to irrigate cultures. At the side of the water point built in the 12th century, draws up a saadien palace with a square form and a triangular roof, which used to be the old romantic residence of sultans during the 19th century. This place is ideal for walks. Far from the city and its noise, visitors will appreciate a calm, resourceful and greeny place.
Bahia Palace, located in Marrakech, is a Moroccan architecture chef d’œuvre, constructed in the end of the XIXe century, like the majority of Arab palaces. It contains beautiful gardens and patios, and comprises richly decorated rooms. The construction of the palace was undertaken by the Moroccan architect El Mekki on behalf of the Grand Vizir Ahmed Ben Moussa known as Ba Hmad (1841-1900).
Almoravide Qoubba founded in 1064, constitutes the last vestige of Almoravides dynasty. Qoubba (“Arabic cupola”) was the center of praying cleaning for believers going to the mosque. The place stayed in activity for several centuries and was one of the first fountains of the town of Marrakech and thus ensured water provision for the population and its animals. Three fountains and the center for cleaning were fed by a system of underground galleries (" khettaras" in Arabic) which finished in a cistern where interior bronze pipings brought water to basins. This monument is also characterized by its arches finely engraved and its ceiling, making this place a historical place for Almoravides dynasty in Morocco.
The medersa Ben Youssef is a jewel of arabo-Andalusian architecture. The current structure of this Qoranic school was built in 1570 by saadiens and was restored in 1950. It has been initiated by the saadien sultan Abdellah Al Ghalib who completed its construction in 1564-1565.
The name Ben Youssef comes from the sultan almoravide Ali Ben Youssef. The medersa was, during more than four centuries, welcoming students thirsty of knowledge in various sciences, in particular in theology. It had 132 rooms intended for foreign students and could accomodate up to 900 students. At the opposite of entry door, on the other side of the rectangular basin, were rooms of prayers made up of three naves delimited by marble pillars supporting engraved arcs. The central nave opens on a small room in half-circle sumptuously decorated with floral and geometrical design. This room conceals the mirhab decorated with carved alce plaster laces.
The Saadiens tombs of Marrakech go back to the times of the great sultan Ahmed Al-Mansur Saadi (1578-1603). These tombs, discovered in 1917, were then restored by Casablanca Beaux Arts school. Visitors are impressed by the beauty of their decoration. The mausoleum shelters the bodies of about sixty Saadiens, of which Al-Mansour, its successors and his family. The building is composed of three rooms. The most prestigious mausoleum is the room of the twelve columns. This room shelters sultan Ahmed El Mansour’s son body. Cupola are made out of wooden cedar, and stuccos are finely worked. This mausoleum constitutes a very good example of hispano-Moorish decorative art style. Outside, you can find tombs of soldiers and servants, along with a necropolis garden.
El Badi palace, located in Marrakech, was built at the end of the XVIe century by the saadien sultan Ahmed Al-Mansur Saadi to celebrate his victory over the Portuguese army in 1578 in the battle known under the name of " Battle of the Three Kings". The construction of this sumptuous palace lasted from 1578 to 1603. The richest materials were used to decorate the 360 rooms of the Prince palace. Today, from the luxurious palace remains only a big esplanade dug of gardens, orange trees and high walls. In fact, in 1696, the alaouite sultan Moulay Ismaïl took what there was of richer in the palace to build the imperial city of Meknès. The design of this Islamic art jewel was influenced by Alhambra of Grenade
The Museums
The palace which shelters Marrakech museum was built by Mehdi Mnebhi at the end of the XIX century. It reflects the palatial architecture of a whole time. The residence was built on the model of the peristyle house according to which rooms are arranged around an open sky patio with woodworks framing windows and painted designs borrowed from the European art. Omar Benjelloun foundation is, at various degrees, a witness of Morocco history. They include archaeological artifacts, ethnographic, historical documents and contemporary art.
Contact: Museum of Marrakech Fondation Omar Benjelloun Places Ben Youssef - Marrakech-Médina Tel.: +212 24 44 18 93 Fax: +212 24 44 19 01
email: musee.de.marrakech@menara.ma
Open every day from 9:00 to 18:30
Price: 30 DHS
Islamic Art Museum
The Islamic art museum of Marrakech is located close by the Majorelle garden in the district of Guéliz. The old Jacques Majorelle painting workshop was transformed into small, but extraordinary museum of Islamic arts where one can admire beautiful works and in particular famous blue majorelle.
Summer time: 9:00 with 12:00 and of 15:00 to 19:00. Closed on Monday and in August.
Winter time: 9:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00. Entry: 15 dirhams
Dar Si Said Museum is located in Marrakech, and is entirely dedicated to the Moroccan craft wood industry. Formerly a large residence built at the end of the XIXe century by Si Saïd, brother of Ba Ahmed, Great Vizir of Moulay Abdelaziz and chamberlain of the Sultan Moulay Hassan Ier, used to be his residence. Dar Si Saïd was arranged into a museum in 1932 by the Beaux Arts school administration. The main part of the museum collection comes from Marrakech and the south of Morocco, particularly from Tensift, the High Atlas, the Anti-Atlas. You can find homogeneous woodworks, jewels from the south, pottery, ceramics, weapons, costumes and a rich collection of carpets and weavings from the South, and some archaeological parts such as the marble tank of the beginning of XIe century.
Derbel BahiaRiad Zitoun el-Jedid Medina Marrakech
Tel.: +212 (0) 24442464 Tel.: +212 (0) 24 38 95 64
House of the 19th century, transformed into an art and popular traditions museum at the end of the Fifties. Concerning its style, it is especially remarkable for its hispano-Moorish patios style. Given the moderate access price, we could only advise you to visit it. The discussion thread is the caravan roads which started from Marrakech to Black Africa and Tombouctou. You will, thus, find popular objects of all these areas (jewels, clothing of various tribes, Berber tents, hammers with sugar, etc.)
HOUSE TISKIWIN 8 Street Bahia Médina de Marrakech
Tel.: +212 (0) 24 38 91 92
The Gardens
Jacques Majorelle was born in 1886 in Nancy (France). In 1919, he came to Marrakech to continue its painting career, where he acquired a land which was going to become the Majorelle garden. Since 1947, he opened doors of his garden to the public. Contrasts, colors, plays of light seem left from one of the Jacques Majorelle’s paintings. He was one of the most important collectors of plants of his time. Plants from the five continents are exposed within a fairy-like framework. What used to be Jacques Majorelle’s workshop, a place of inspiration and meditation, shelters today the splendid collection of Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent’s Islamic art. The originality of this place lies in the combination of a luxuriant vegetation and architectural elements combining sobriety and Moroccan traditional esthetics. The power of Majorelle blue takes part into the impression of freshness and calmness.
Email: Jardin.majorelle@menara.ma
Tel.: 05 24 30 18 52
Timalizene garden is a sumptuous garden and Guest house nested in the valley of the ourika. Between the Oued and the mountain, 11 terraces with treillised vineyards, brooks, sculptures and many surprising details await you. In the south of Marrakech, 30 km away from the valley of Ourika. Take the direction of Setti Fatma. After 10 km, watch for our billboard. 20m away from the potter shop, you will see the garden at the opposite side. Cross the Oued through the small bridge.
Email: timalizène@menara.ma
At the foot of the High-Atlas, 840 m of altitude and 35 km in the south-east of Marrakech, in the valley of Ourika, the first Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Garden of Morocco accomodates you and offers you a unique opportunity to discover the botanical richness and traditional use of plants in the area. This one Hectare Garden is composed of 50 species of aromatic and medicinal plants in addition to several decorative plants species.
B.P 142 Tnine ourika Haouz Marrakech - Morocco
Tel. Fax: (00 212) 44 48 24 47
Mobile: (00-212) 61 20 93 47 or (00-212) 61 34 00 49
E-mail: nectarome@nectarome.com
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