Marrakech
| Marrakech مراكش Murrākush |
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  Marrakech
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country |  Morocco |
| Region | Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz |
| Province | Marrakech Province |
| Population (2004) | |
| - Total | 1,070,838 |
Marrakech or Marrakesh (Amazigh: Murakush, Arabic مراكش marrākuš, marrākiš), known as the "Red City", is an important and former imperial city in Morocco. The city of Marrakech is the capital of the mid-southwestern economic region of Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains.
Like many North African cities, the city of Marrakech comprises both an old fortified city (the médina) and an adjacent modern city (called Gueliz) for a total population of 1,070,838.[1] It is served by Ménara International Airport (IATE code: RAK) and a rail link to Casablanca and the north.[1]
Marrakech has the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco and also has one of the busiest squares in Africa and the world, Djemaa el Fna.[2] The square bustles with acrobats, story-tellers, water sellers, dancers and musicians. By night food stalls open in the square turning it into a huge busy open-air restaurant.
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Name
The probable origin of its name is from the Amazigh (Berber) words mur (n) akush (ⵎⵓⵔ ⵏ ⴰⵅⵓⵙⵂ), which means "Land of God". (The root "mur" is used now in the Berber languages mostly in the feminine form "tamurt"). The same word "mur" appears in the country Mauritania, but this interpretation is still unproven to this day.
Until a few decades ago, Morocco was known as Kingdom of Marrakech by Arabs, Persians and Europeans. The European names of Morocco, Marruecos, Marrocos, Maroc, Marokko are directly derived from the Berber word Murakush. The city is spelled "Marrakech" in French, "Marrakech" or "Marrakesh" in English, "Marrakesch" in German and "Marakeş" in Turkish.
History
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 chose to build a new capital. He decided to build it in the plains near the Tansift river. He chose the site of Marrakech, because it was 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.[3] The city experienced its greatest period under the leadership of Yaqub al-Mansur, 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.
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For centuries Marrakech has been known for its 'seven saints.' When sufism was at the height of its popularity, during the reign of 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 Marrakech 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, Abdelaziz al-Tebaa 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 an official number of population of 1,070,838 in 2004.[1] There is a very large international community consisting mainly of Europeans estimated at 10,700 people, mostly retired.
Economy
Atlas Blue, a budget airline, has its head office on the grounds of Marrakech-Menara Airport.[4]
Main Sights
Many tourists venture 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. They also tour the Middle Atlas Mountains, where the Waterfalls of Beni Mellal are found, and to Essaouira on the Atlantic ocean.
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- Try the tour company http://www.marrakech-loisirs.com - who will be able to provide all tours and sight seeing experiences in Marrakech**
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.
- Marrakech is the southern terminus of the ONCF, the Moroccan railway network, and Marrakech is well served by trains heading to Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, and Fes. The Marrakech railway 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.
-
- Try the tour company http://www.marrakech-loisirs.com - who will be able to provide all tours and sight seeing experiences in Marrakech**
Notable residents
- Winston Churchill, spent time convalescing at Marrakesh late 1943 early 1944 during WWII.
- Juan Goytisolo, Spanish novelist
- Yves Saint-Laurent, Grand French designer and artist
- Jean-Paul Gaultier, French fashion designer and grand couturier.
- Mohamed Abdelaziz, President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
- Elias Canetti
References in popular culture
- "Marrakesh Express" is a song by Crosby, Stills and Nash.
- Alfred Hitchcock filmed the opening scenes of The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) on location in Marrakech with Doris Day and James Stewart.
- The book Hideous Kinky, as well as its movie adaptation, are for a large part situated in Marrakech in the early 70's.
- "Marrakech" is a title of a chapter, as well as the chapter's main setting, in James Michener's The Drifters
- "Marrakech" (song) is a single from ATB's album No Silence.
- "Going to Marrakech" is a song written by The Extra Glenns''s album Martial Arts Weekend.
- Marrakech is a track from Hybrid's 2003 album "Morning Sci-Fi".
- "Marrakesh Night Market" is a song from the album "The Mask and Mirror" by Loreena McKennitt.
- German hip hop band Ancient Astronauts released a song titled "Lost in Marrakesh" as part of their 2009 album "We Are To Answer".[5]
- The Venture Bros. episode Mid-Life Chrysalis begins with the team waylaid on their trip to Marrakesh where they are to fight an army of giant mutated lizards.
- The Absolutely Fabulous episode "Morocco" takes place in Marrakech.
- "Marrakesh" is a track from DJ Greyboy's 2001 album "Mastered the Art".
- Derren Brown transported a subject to Marrakesh without his knowledge or prior warning for episode 1 of the first series of his television show, Trick or Treat, which was broadcast in April 2007.
Sister cities
Climate
{{
| Climate data for Marrakech, Morocco (1961-1990) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 18.4 (65.1) |
19.9 (67.8) |
22.3 (72.1) |
23.7 (74.7) |
27.5 (81.5) |
31.3 (88.3) |
36.8 (98.2) |
36.5 (97.7) |
32.5 (90.5) |
27.5 (81.5) |
22.2 (72) |
18.7 (65.7) |
26.44 (79.6) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 5.9 (42.6) |
7.6 (45.7) |
9.4 (48.9) |
11.0 (51.8) |
13.8 (56.8) |
16.3 (61.3) |
19.9 (67.8) |
20.1 (68.2) |
18.2 (64.8) |
14.7 (58.5) |
10.4 (50.7) |
6.5 (43.7) |
12.82 (55.07) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 32.2 (1.268) |
37.9 (1.492) |
37.8 (1.488) |
38.8 (1.528) |
23.7 (0.933) |
4.5 (0.177) |
1.2 (0.047) |
3.4 (0.134) |
5.9 (0.232) |
23.9 (0.941) |
40.6 (1.598) |
31.4 (1.236) |
281.3 (11.075) |
| Source: Hong Kong Observatory[6] | |||||||||||||
Photo gallery
 The Saadian Tombs |
 The Koutoubia Mosque |
 Djemaa el Fna square by night |
 A view from a hill |
 Hotel de Ville |
 Bab Agnaou city gate |
 Djemaa el Fna in the evening |
 Marrakech riad courtyard |
 Wall of Agdal Gardens |
 Ballooning |
 Menara gardens |
 Sunset near Marrakech train station |
 Madrassa Ben Yusef |
References and notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Recensement Général De La Population Et De L'Habitat De 2004". hcp.ma. http://www.hcp.ma/pubData/Demographie/RGPH/Populationlegale(1).pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
- ↑ Ready for the masses? - Daily Telegraph
- ↑ Ibn Idhari, Al-bayan al-mughrib Part III, annotated Spanish translation by A. Huici Miranda, Valencia, 1963
- ↑ "Contact." Atlas Blue. 15 February 2008. Retrieved on 26 June 2010.
- ↑ "We Are To Answer" by Ancient Astronauts, Music Aloud
- ↑ "Climatological Information for Marrakech, Morocco", Hong Kong Observatory, 2003, web: HKO-Marrakech.
- ↑ Image credit
External links
- Marrakech travel guide from Wikitravel
- Official site of the city of Marrakech (Arabic, French)
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