Marrakech

Marrakech (Arabic: Mûrrakûsh, مراكش) known as the Pearl of the South or the City of South Gate and red ocher or city is a city in Morocco, at the foot of the Atlas mountains. Distance: The distance between Casablanca and Marrakech, 240 km east of the city was founded in 1062 by Youssef Ibn Tachfine, the first king of the dynasty of the Almoravids. In the past, Morocco is known as the east of Marrakech, this designation is still going on in Iran, Morocco name comes from the deformation of the Spanish pronunciation of Marrakech, Morocco.



Presentation of the city :

Marrakech has about 1 million inhabitants (Census 2004) spread over an area of 6.2 square kilometers. The population density was 350 people per hectare. This is the 4th largest city in Morocco after Casablanca, Rabat and Fez. The city is divided into two distinct parts: the historic old town or Medina (10 km site) and the new city whose main areas are: Guéliz and Hivernage. Gueliz is now the mall. It was founded by the French during the Protectorate. The service area Hivernage many resorts. In recent years, the city grows, particularly in the western suburbs with the emergence of new residential areas in the region of Targa or extension of Avenue Mohammed VI

History :

Marrakech was founded in 454 AH, corresponding to the year 1062 of the Christian era, Youssef Ibn Tachfine first ruler of the dynasty Almoravid. The name comes from Marrakech Berber "Love", meaning "country" and "Akouch" which means "god" the land of God and the Holy Land. Very quickly, in Marrakech, under the leadership of the Almoravids, austere and pious men, many mosques and madrasas (Islamic schools of theology) were built, and a commercial center for the Maghreb and black Africa. Marrakech grew rapidly and became a cultural and religious influence, the walls are built to protect the city. It becomes the core, the capital of the Almoravids. The city was later fortified by the son of Tachfine Ibn Youssef, Ali Ben Youssef, construction of walls for several kilometers, the city's architecture was influenced by Fes, the capital founded by Idris I, in Muslim Spain. These two cities are the culture, architecture Morocco, but also the Arab / Muslims who are inspired by Al Andalus, which had poured into the Arab world. In 1147, the Almoravids, the proponents of the orthodoxy of Islam conquered the city walls, the last Almoravids dead, almost all of the monuments destroyed. Almohad built many palaces and religious buildings, including the famous Koutoubia mosque built on the ruins of a palace Almoravid. To feed the palm trees and large gardens, an irrigation system has been improved. Marrakech, cultural attracted many writers and artists, in particular in Andalusia. In 1269, Marrakech was conquered by nomads at the expense of the last Mérinides Almohades. When the advent of Merinids dynasty, Marrakech then fell into a slumber, and as a result of reduction in the loss of its status as capital for the benefit of his great rival, the Fez. In the early sixteenth century, Marrakech became the capital of the kingdom, quickly reached its peak, in particular through the Saadian Sultan Mohammed El Mahdi. Due to the fortune amassed by the Sultans, Marrakech is embellished monuments in ruins after restored and sumptuous palaces built. The palace built by the Saadian the Badi is a replica of the Alhambra, built with the most valuable materials from Italy, Sudan, India and even China. A protocol based on the sumptuous Topkapi in Istanbul has been applied. Despite his opposition to the Turks, Saadian are attracted by the Ottoman civilization. A trace of this influence is in the name of the district Dabachi Derb, derived from the term "ogdabachi" and appoint a senior officer in the Ottoman military hierarchy. Marrakech again lose its status as capital. In the late seventeenth century, the current successor to the Alawite dynasty Saadi. The throne is successively moved to Meknes and Fez, new imperial city. At the beginning of XX century, Marrakech has several years of civil war. In 1912, the introduction of the French protectorate in Morocco to put an end to this anarchy. In 1956, the return from exile of King Mohamed V was held in Marrakech and the rest of the country.


Weather:

Marrakech has a tendency to the arid climate is characterized by strong seasonal temperature variation during the day due to its distance from the Atlantic coast. The city and surrounding plains suffer from a lack of rain in summer. Winter temperatures are mild, or even in the cold. In contrast summer temperatures are warm. Most people go out late at night to enjoy the temperatures more bearable for the night and the city has a lively nightlife