Marrakesh, also spelled Marrakech, is the fourth-largest city in Morocco. It is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco and serves as the capital of the Marrakesh-Safi region. The city is located west of the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.
The city was founded around the year 1070 by Abu Bakr ibn Umar as the capital of the Almoravid dynasty. The Almoravids built the first major structures in the city and influenced its layout for many years. The red walls of the city, constructed by Ali ibn Yusuf between 1122 and 1123, and later buildings made of red sandstone, earned the city the nickname "Red City" or "Ochre City." Marrakesh grew quickly and became an important center for culture, religion, and trade in the Maghreb region. After a time of decline, the city regained its importance in the early 16th century as the capital of the Saadian dynasty. Sultans Abdallah al-Ghalib and Ahmad al-Mansur added many grand monuments to the city. Starting in the 17th century, the city became a popular destination for Sufi pilgrims because seven patron saints are buried there. In 1912, the French Protectorate in Morocco was established, and T'hami El Glaoui became Pasha of Marrakesh. He held this position until Morocco gained independence and the monarchy was restored in 1956.
Marrakesh includes an old, fortified city filled with vendors and their stalls. This area, called the medina, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It contains the Jemaa el-Fnaa square, many souks (markets), the Kutubiyya Mosque, and other historic and cultural sites. The city is a major economic center and a popular tourist destination. Property and hotel development in Marrakesh have increased greatly in the 21st century. The city is especially popular with people from France, and many French celebrities own homes there.
Marrakesh is served by Marrakesh Menara Airport and by Marrakesh railway station, which connects the city to Casablanca and northern Morocco. The city has several universities and schools, including Cadi Ayyad University. Marrakesh has become a major destination for tourism.
Etymology
The exact meaning of the name Marrakesh is not agreed on. One possible origin comes from Berber (Amazigh) words, amur (n) akush, which may mean "Land of God." However, historian Susan Searight notes that the name was first recorded in an 11th-century manuscript at the Qarawiyyin library in Fez, where it was described as "country of the sons of Kush." The word mur is now used in Berber mostly in the feminine form tamurt. The same word mur appears in the ancient North African kingdom of Mauretania, though this connection is debated. The name Mauretania may come from the Greek word mauros, meaning "dark."
The common English spelling is "Marrakesh," though "Marrakech" (the French version) is also widely used. In the Berber Latin alphabet, it is spelled Mṛṛakc, while in Portuguese it is Marraquexe and in Spanish Marrakech. In Moroccan Arabic, it is often pronounced merrākesh (/mərra:kəʃ/) with stress on the second syllable.
From medieval times until the early 20th century, the entire country of Morocco was called the "Kingdom of Marrakesh" because the city was its historic capital. The name "Marrakesh" is still used for Morocco in Persian, Urdu, and many South Asian languages. European names for Morocco, such as Marruecos, Marrocos, Maroc, and Marokko, come from the name Murrākush. Earlier, the city was sometimes called "Marocco City" by foreign travelers.
The names of the city and country became separate after the Treaty of Fez divided Morocco into a French protectorate and a Spanish protectorate. This division ended around the time of Mohammed Ben Aarafa's rule (1953–1955), which led to Morocco's independence. Morocco officially became al-Mamlaka al-Maġribiyya ("The Maghreb Kingdom"), no longer tied to the city of Marrakesh.
Marrakesh is known by many names, including "Red City" (Al-madīnat al-ḥamrā') and "Ochre City." It is also called "the Daughter of the Desert." Poets have compared the city to "a drum that beats an African identity into the complex soul of Morocco."
History
The Marrakesh area was home to Berber farmers as far back as the Neolithic period, and many stone tools have been found there. Marrakesh was founded by Abu Bakr ibn Umar, a leader and relative of the Almoravid king Yusuf ibn Tashfin (c. 1061–1106). Historical records mention different years for this event, ranging from 1062 (454 in the Hijri calendar), as noted by Ibn Abi Zar and Ibn Khaldun, to 1078 (470 AH), according to Muhammad al-Idrisi. Most modern historians use 1070 as the common date, though some still mention 1062.
The Almoravids, a Berber group trying to improve Islamic society, ruled an area that included parts of Senegal, Spain, the Atlantic coast, and Algiers. They made Marrakesh their capital and built its first structures, such as mosques and a fortified residence called Ksar al-Hajjar, near the present-day Kutubiyya Mosque. These early Almoravid buildings influenced the city’s layout and organization for many years. For example, the current Jemaa el-Fnaa square was created near the gates of the Almoravid palace, and the city’s main markets developed between this square and the main mosque. Marrakesh became a major trading center for the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa. It grew quickly and became a cultural and religious hub, replacing Aghmat, which had been the capital of Haouz. Andalusi craftsmen from Cordoba and Seville built and decorated many monuments, using a style known for carved domes and pointed arches. This Andalusian style blended with designs from the Sahara and West Africa, creating a unique architectural style suited to Marrakesh. Yusuf ibn Tashfin built homes, made coins, and brought gold and silver to the city in caravans. His son, Ali Ibn Yusuf, built the Ben Youssef Mosque, the city’s main mosque, between 1120 and 1132. He also built the city’s first walls in 1126–1127 and improved the water supply by creating an underground system called the khettara.
In 1125, the preacher Ibn Tumart settled in Tin Mal, a mountain area south of Marrakesh, and started the Almohad movement. This group, mainly made up of Masmuda tribesmen, followed a strict reform movement led by Ibn Tumart, who was seen as a messianic figure. He criticized the Almoravids and helped lead a rebellion that captured nearby Aghmat but failed to take Marrakesh after a failed siege in 1130. Ibn Tumart died shortly after, but his successor, Abd al-Mu'min, took control and captured Marrakesh in 1147 after a long siege. The Almohads removed the Almoravid population over three days and made Marrakesh their new capital. They later took over much of the Almoravids’ former lands in Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. In 1147, Abd al-Mu'min built the Kutubiyya Mosque, the city’s new main mosque, next to the old Almoravid palace. The Almoravid mosques were either destroyed or abandoned as the Almohads carried out religious reforms. Abd al-Mu'min also created the Menara Gardens in 1157, while his successor, Abu Ya'qub Yusuf, started the Agdal Gardens. Ya'qub al-Mansur, possibly following orders from his father, built the Kasbah, a citadel and palace district on the city’s southern side. The Kasbah housed the government and the residence of the caliph, a title used by Almohad rulers to rival the eastern Abbasid Caliphate. These additions helped improve the city’s water supply and create reservoirs for irrigation. Because of Marrakesh’s importance, it became a center for writers, artists, and intellectuals, including the famous philosopher Averroes of Cordoba.
The death of Yusuf II in 1224 led to a period of instability. Marrakesh became a stronghold for Almohad tribal leaders and descendants of Ibn Tumart, who tried to take power from the ruling family. The city was captured, lost, and retaken many times by different rulers, such as during the brutal takeover by the Sevillan caliph Abd al-Wahid II al-Ma'mun in 1226. This event led to the killing of Almohad tribal leaders and their families, and the caliph publicly rejected Ibn Tumart’s teachings from the pulpit of the Kasbah Mosque. After al-Ma'mun’s death in 1232, his wife tried to install her son as ruler, gaining support from Almohad military leaders and Spanish mercenaries. The people of Marrakesh avoided destruction by paying 500,000 dinars to the military captains. In 1269, Marrakesh was conquered by the Marinids, a Zenata tribe that overthrew the Almohads in Morocco. Though Marrakesh remained a major city, it lost its status as the capital to Fez and entered a period of decline.
In the early 16th century, Marrakesh became the capital of Morocco again. After a time when it was ruled by the Hintata emirs, it regained its importance during the reigns of the Saadian sultans Abdallah al-Ghalib and Ahmad al-Mansur. Under the Saadian dynasty, Marrakesh experienced a new golden age. The sultans used their wealth to build grand palaces and restore old monuments. El Badi Palace, started by Ahmad al-Mansur in 1578, was made with expensive materials like Italian marble. The palace was mainly used for hosting important guests from Spain, England, and the Ottoman Empire, showing Saadian Morocco’s power and influence.
For centuries, Marrakesh has been known as the home of the tombs of
Geography
The city is located in the Tensift River valley, with the Tensift River flowing along the northern edge of the city. The Ourika River valley lies about 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Marrakesh. The city has grown north from the old center, with suburbs such as Daoudiat, Diour El Massakine, Sidi Abbad, Sakar, and Amerchich. It has also expanded southeast to Sidi Youssef Ben Ali, west to Massira and Targa, and southwest to M'hamid beyond the airport. Along the P2017 road leading south from the city are large villages like Douar Lahna, Touggana, Lagouassem, and Lahebichate. These villages eventually connect to the town of Tahnaout, located at the edge of the High Atlas, the highest mountain range in North Africa. The average elevation of the snow-covered High Atlas is above 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). This mountain range is mainly made of Jurassic limestone. It runs along the Atlantic coast, rises to the east of Agadir, and extends northeast into Algeria before reaching Tunisia.
Marrakesh has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen classification BSh), with long, hot, dry summers and short, mild to cool winters. Average temperatures range from 12°C (54°F) in winter to 26–30°C (79–86°F) in summer. The city receives more rain in winter and less in summer, similar to Mediterranean climates. However, it gets less rain than typical Mediterranean regions, which classifies it as semi-arid.
Between 1961 and 1990, the city received an average of 281.3 millimeters (11.1 inches) of rain each year. Barrows noted that Marrakesh is often described as desert-like, but it has seasonal rainfall, with moisture moving underground rather than through surface streams. Low shrubs, not forests, dominate the landscape. Marrakesh’s location on the north side of the Atlas Mountains prevents it from being called a desert city. It remains a key connection point between the Sahara and the north.
A 2019 study in PLOS One estimated that under a moderate climate change scenario (global warming reaching about 2.5–3°C by 2100), Marrakesh’s climate in 2050 would resemble the current climate of Bir Lehlou in Western Sahara. Annual temperatures would rise by 2.9°C (5.2°F), the coldest month by 1.6°C (2.9°F), and the warmest month by 7°C (13°F). Climate Action Tracker reports that current warming trends match this scenario closely.
Marrakesh’s water supply partly depends on groundwater, which has slowly decreased over the past 40 years. By the early 2000s, the decline became severe. Since 2002, groundwater levels have dropped by an average of 0.9 meters (3 feet) per year in 80% of Marrakesh and its surrounding area. The most affected region saw a drop of 37 meters (over 2 meters per year).
Demographics
The 2014 census showed that Marrakesh had a population of 928,850 people, compared to 843,575 people in 2004. In 2014, there were 217,245 households in the city, compared to 173,603 households in 2004.
Economy
Marrakesh is an important part of Morocco's economy and culture. Better highways connecting Marrakesh to Casablanca, Agadir, and the local airport have increased tourism in the city. Marrakesh now attracts over two million tourists each year. Tourism is vital to Morocco's economy, so King Mohammed VI promised in 2012 to double the number of tourists visiting Morocco, aiming for 20 million visitors annually by 2020. The city is popular with French visitors, and many French celebrities, such as fashion designers Yves St Laurent and Jean-Paul Gaultier, own homes there. In the 1990s, few foreigners lived in Marrakesh, but real estate development has grown rapidly in the past 15 years. By 2005, over 3,000 foreigners had bought property in the city, drawn by its culture and lower home prices. A French magazine called Le Point described Marrakesh as the "second St Tropez," noting that it is now a popular destination for European travelers. However, despite the tourism growth, many people in Marrakesh still live in poverty. In 2010, about 20,000 households lacked access to water or electricity. Many businesses in the city face serious debt problems.
After the 2008 financial crisis, real estate investments in Marrakesh increased significantly in 2011, especially in tourist accommodations and social housing. Major developments included hotels, golf courses, and health spas, with investments totaling 10.9 billion dirham (US$1.28 billion) that year. Hotel construction has grown quickly, with 19 new hotels planned to open in 2012 alone. Royal Ranches Marrakech, a 380-hectare (940-acre) resort being built in the suburbs, is one of the world's first five-star equestrian resorts. This project is expected to boost the local and national economy by creating jobs and attracting visitors. By April 2012, the resort was about 45% complete. The Avenue Mohammed VI, previously known as Avenue de France, is a major road in the city. It has seen growth in residential buildings and luxury hotels. The avenue is home to Africa's largest nightclub, Pacha Marrakech, which plays house and electro house music. It also includes two large cinemas, Le Colisée à Gueliz and Cinéma Rif, and a new shopping area, Al Mazar.
Trade and crafts are important to Marrakesh's tourism-based economy. The city has 18 souks, employing over 40,000 people in pottery, copperware, leather, and other crafts. These markets sell a wide variety of items, from plastic sandals to scarves imported from India or China. Local shops create Western-style clothing using Moroccan materials. The Birmingham Post described the souks as offering a unique shopping experience with many narrow, winding streets and smaller markets grouped by trade. Visitors can spend an entire day exploring the bustling areas, including the poultry market and open-air butcher shops. Marrakesh has several supermarkets, such as Marjane Acima, Asswak Salam, and Carrefour, as well as three major shopping centers: Al Mazar Mall, Plaza Marrakech, and Marjane Square. A Carrefour branch opened in Al Mazar Mall in 2010. Industrial production in the city is centered in the Sidi Ghanem Al Massar neighborhood, which includes large factories, workshops, storage areas, and showrooms. Ciments Morocco, a subsidiary of an Italian cement company, operates a factory in Marrakesh.
Marrakesh is one of North Africa's largest centers for wildlife trade, even though most of this trade is illegal. Much of this trade occurs in the medina and nearby squares. Tortoises are often sold as pets, and Barbary macaques and snakes are also available. Many of these animals live in poor conditions in the market stalls.
Tourism
Marrakesh is a well-known place for visitors. Tourism in riads, which are traditional homes in the city, has changed how the city looks and feels. The medina, or old part of Marrakesh, was developed during the time France controlled the area. It was designed to fit Western ideas about the Muslim world. Mauro Spotorno said in 2018 that many old homes in the historical center have been fixed up and turned into hotels. This has made the medina a good example of gentrification, or changes in neighborhoods caused by new businesses and wealth. Khalid Madhi says tourism in Marrakesh raises questions about how heritage is used as a product, the relationship between local people and tourists, whether tourism can be kept up long-term, and how land, culture, and memories are used by others. Nancy Nabeel Aly Demerdash noted that Marrakesh is known for offering exciting experiences, but these repeated images make Marrakesh feel more like something to buy or enjoy rather than a real place.
Politics
Marrakesh, the regional capital, is a type of administrative area in Morocco called Marrakech Prefecture. It is part of the Marrakech-Safi region. Marrakesh is an important place for legal matters in Morocco, and many of the region’s major courts are located there. These courts include the Regional Court of Appeal, the Commercial Court, the Administrative Court, the Court of First Instance, the Court of Appeal of Commerce, and the Administrative Court of Appeal. Many organizations in the region have their main offices in Marrakesh, such as the regional government offices, the Regional Council of Tourism, and public services like the Governed Autonomous Water Supply and Electricity and Maroc Telecom.
On June 12, 2009, Fatima-Zahra Mansouri, a 33-year-old lawyer and daughter of a former assistant to a local authority leader in Marrakesh, was elected as the city’s first female mayor. She won the election with 54 votes compared to 35 votes for the outgoing mayor, Omar Jazouli. Mansouri became the second woman in Morocco’s history to hold a mayoral position, following Asma Chaabi, who was mayor of Essaouira. She was re-elected as Marrakech’s mayor for a second term in September 2021.
After the legislative elections in November 2011, the ruling political party in Marrakesh for the first time became the Justice and Development Party (PDJ), which also leads the country. The PDJ, which supports Islamic principles and democratic governance, won five seats. The National Rally of Independents (RNI) won one seat, and the PAM won three. In the partial legislative elections for the Guéliz Ennakhil constituency in October 2012, the PDJ, led by Ahmed El Moutassadik, won with 10,452 votes. The PAM, which includes many supporters of King Mohammed VI, came in second with 9,794 votes.
Landmarks
The Jemaa el-Fnaa is one of the most famous squares in Africa and serves as the center of city activity and trade. It has been called a "world-famous square" and a "symbol of the city, connecting the past and present, where traditional Moroccan culture meets modern life." It became part of the UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. The square’s name may mean "ruined mosque" or "mosque of annihilation," referring to a mosque built in the late 16th century that was never completed and later fell into ruins. The square was originally an open space for markets located on the east side of the Ksar el-Hajjar, the main fortress and palace of the Almoravid dynasty, which founded Marrakesh.
Historically, the square was used for public executions by rulers who wanted to show power and control. It attracted people from nearby deserts and mountains to trade, and stalls were set up in the square from early in its history. Traders, snake charmers, dancers, and musicians who played pipes, tambourines, and African drums were common in the square. Today, the square continues to draw people from many backgrounds and visitors from around the world. Snake charmers, acrobats, magicians, mystics, musicians, monkey trainers, herb sellers, storytellers, dentists, pickpockets, and performers in medieval clothing still gather there.
Marrakesh is home to the largest traditional market in Morocco, and the city is closely linked to its souks. Historically, the souks were divided into sections for specific goods, such as leather, carpets, metalwork, and pottery. These sections still exist, though they overlap. Many souks sell items like carpets, traditional Muslim clothing, leather bags, and lanterns. Bargaining is still an important part of shopping in the souks.
The Medina is also known for its street food. Mechoui Alley is famous for selling slow-roasted lamb dishes. The Ensemble Artisanal, near the Koutoubia Mosque, is a government-run complex that offers leather goods, textiles, and carpets. Young apprentices learn crafts in workshops behind the complex.
The ramparts of Marrakesh, which surround the city’s medina for about 19 kilometers (12 miles), were built by the Almoravids in the 12th century as protective walls. The walls are made of orange-red clay and chalk, giving the city its nickname as the "red city." They are up to 19 feet (5.8 meters) high and have 20 gates and 200 towers.
One of the most well-known gates is Bab Agnaou, built in the late 12th century by the Almohad caliph Ya'qub al-Mansur as the main entrance to the Kasbah. The gate has carved floral designs and three panels with Quranic inscriptions in Maghrebi script. The medina has at least eight main historic gates, including Bab Doukkala, Bab el-Khemis, Bab ad-Debbagh, Bab Aylan, Bab Aghmat, Bab er-Robb, Bab el-Makhzen, and Bab el-'Arissa. These gates date back to the 12th century and have been modified over time.
Marrakesh has many gardens, both old and new. The largest and oldest are the Menara Gardens to the west and the Agdal Gardens to the south. The Menara Gardens were created in 1157 by the Almohad ruler Abd al-Mu'min and include a large water reservoir surrounded by orchards and olive groves. A 19th-century pavilion stands near the reservoir. The Agdal Gardens, established during the reign of Abu Ya'qub Yusuf (1163–1184), cover about 340 hectares (1.3 square miles) and have water basins, palace structures, and walls made of pisé. Both gardens use an old water system called khettaras to bring water from the Atlas Mountains.
The Majorelle Garden, on Avenue Yacoub el Mansour, was once the home of the painter Jacques Majorelle. The designer Yves Saint Laurent restored the property and added a museum of Islamic art in a blue building. The garden, open to the public since 1947, has plants from five continents, including cacti, palms, and bamboo.
The Koutoubia Mosque is flanked by the Koutoubia Gardens, which have orange and palm trees and are visited by storks. The Mamounia Gardens, named after Prince Moulay Mamoun, have olive and orange trees and flower displays. In 2016, the ANIMA garden opened near the Atlas Mountains, featuring plants and artwork by artists like Keith Haring and Pablo Picasso. Also in 2016, a restored riad garden inside the medina, called Le Jardin Secret, opened to visitors.
The city’s history is shown in its palaces, mansions, and other grand homes. The most famous palaces today are the El Badi Palace, the Bahia Palace, and the Royal Palace, which is still used by the King of Morocco. Riads, which are Moroccan mansions with central garden courtyards surrounded by high walls, are common in Marrakesh. These designs provide privacy and help keep buildings cool. Many riads
Culture
The Marrakech Museum is located in the Dar Menebhi Palace in the old city center. It was built at the start of the 20th century by Mehdi Menebhi. The palace was restored by the Omar Benjelloun Foundation and became a museum in 1997. The museum displays modern and traditional Moroccan art, along with historical books, coins, and pottery made by Moroccan Arab, Berber, and Jewish people.
The Dar Si Said Museum is north of the Bahia Palace. It was once the home of Si Said, the brother of Grand Vizier Ba Ahmad, and was built during the same time as Ahmad’s Bahia Palace. In the 1930s, during the French Protectorate, it became a museum of Moroccan art and woodcraft. After recent renovations, it reopened in 2018 as the National Museum of Weaving and Carpets.
The former home of Jacques Majorelle, a blue-colored building in the Majorelle Gardens, became the Berber Museum (Musée Pierre Bergé des Arts Berbères) in 2011. It previously housed a museum of Islamic art. The museum shows objects from Amazigh (Berber) culture found in different parts of Morocco.
The House of Photography of Marrakech was opened in 2009 by Patrick Menac’h and Hamid Mergani. It displays vintage Moroccan photographs from the 1870s to 1950s. The Mouassine Museum, also owned by them, is a historic 16th–17th-century house in the Mouassine neighborhood that now serves as a museum and cultural venue.
In the medina, the Dar El Bacha hosts the Musée des Confluences, which opened in 2017. The museum shows temporary exhibits about Moroccan culture and art objects from other cultures around the world. Other small museums, such as the Musée Boucharouite and the Perfume Museum (Musée du Parfum), also exist. Dar Bellarj, an arts center near the Ben Youssef Mosque, sometimes hosts art exhibits. The Tiskiwin Museum, located in a restored medina mansion, displays artifacts from the trans-Saharan trade routes. Many art galleries and museums are also found outside the medina, in Gueliz and nearby areas.
Two types of music are linked to Marrakesh. Moroccan music is influenced by Andalusian classical music and often uses an oud, a stringed instrument. Gnaoua music is loud and lively, with a sound similar to the Blues. It uses handmade instruments like castanets, ribabs (three-stringed banjos), and deffs (handheld drums). The rhythm and loud parts of Gnaoua music create a trance-like feeling. This style is believed to have started in Marrakesh and Essaouira as a ritual to help people escape slavery. Recently, female music groups from Marrakesh have become popular.
The Théâtre Royal de Marrakesh, the Institut Français, and Dar Chérifa are major performing arts places in the city. The Théâtre Royal, designed by Tunisian architect Charles Boccara, shows plays, operas, and dances in Arabic and French. Many storytellers, musicians, and others also perform on the Jemaa el-Fnaa, especially at night, to entertain locals and visitors.
The arts and crafts of Marrakesh have greatly influenced Moroccan handicrafts. Riad designs are used in carpets, textiles, ceramics, woodwork, metalwork, and zelij (a type of tilework). Carpets and textiles are woven, sewn, or embroidered and sometimes used for upholstery. Women who make crafts are called Maalems and create items like Arabic and Berber carpets and shawls made from sabra (another name for rayon, sometimes called cactus silk). Ceramics come in different styles, including monochrome and bold designs.
Wood crafts are often made from cedar, such as riad doors and palace ceilings. Orange wood is used to make ladles called harira (used for lentil soup). Thuya, a type of conifer found in Morocco, is used to make crafts. Because thuya trees are nearly gone, artists in the Femmes de Marrakech cooperative are replanting them.
Metalwork in Marrakesh includes brass lamps, iron lanterns, candle holders made from recycled sardine tins, and engraved brass teapots and tea trays used for serving tea. Contemporary art includes sculpture and figurative paintings. Blue veiled Tuareg figurines and calligraphy paintings are also popular.
Festivals, both national and Islamic, are celebrated in Marrakesh and across Morocco. Some are national holidays. Cultural events in Marrakesh include the National Folklore Festival, the Marrakech Festival of Popular Arts, Marrakech Folklore Days, and the Berber Festival. The International Film Festival of Marrakech, started in 2001, aims to be the North African version of the Cannes Film Festival. It shows over 100 films each year and has attracted famous actors like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Susan Sarandon, Jeremy Irons, Roman Polanski, and many others. The Marrakech Bienniale, created in 2004 by Vanessa Branson, is a cultural event covering visual arts, cinema, literature, performing arts, and architecture.
Marrakech is surrounded by lemon, orange, and olive groves. Its food is rich and spicy but not hot. A key spice blend is ras el hanout, which includes ash berries, chili, cinnamon, grains of paradise, monk’s pepper, nutmeg, and turmeric. A local dish called tanjia marrakshia, also known as bint ar-rimad, is made with beef, spices, and smen (Moroccan ghee) and cooked slowly in a ceramic pot in hot ashes. Tajines are made with chicken, lamb, beef, or fish, along with fruit, olives, preserved lemons, vegetables, and spices like cumin, peppers, saffron, turmeric, and ras el hanout. The meal is cooked in a tajine pot using steam. Another version uses vegetables and chickpeas with flower petals. Tajines are sometimes basted with smen, which has a flavor similar to blue cheese.
Traditional dishes in Marrakech include shrimp and chicken filled with lemon, called briouats. Rice is cooked with saffron, raisins, spices, and almonds, while cous
Education
Marrakesh has several universities and schools, including Cadi Ayyad University, also called the University of Marrakech. Part of this university is the École nationale des sciences appliquées de Marrakech (ENSA Marrakech), which was created in 2000 by the Ministry of Higher Education. This institution focuses on engineering and scientific research. Cadi Ayyad University was established in 1978 and operates 13 institutions in the Marrakech Tensift Elhaouz and Abda Doukkala regions of Morocco. These institutions are located in four main cities, including Kalaat Sraghna, Essaouira, Safi, and Marrakech. Sup de Co Marrakech, also called the École Supérieure de Commerce de Marrakech, is a private four-year college founded in 1987 by Ahmed Bennis. This school is connected to the École Supérieure de Commerce in Toulouse, France.
The Ben Youssef Madrasa, located north of the Medina, was an Islamic college in Marrakesh named after the Almoravid sultan Ali ibn Yusuf (1106–1142), who greatly expanded the city and its influence. It is the largest madrasa in Morocco and was once one of the largest theological colleges in Northern Africa, housing up to 900 students at one time. This education complex specialized in Quranic law and was linked to similar institutions in Fez, Taza, Salé, and Meknes. The Madrasa was built by the Saadian Sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib (1557–1574) in 1564 as the largest and most respected madrasa in Morocco. Construction was completed in 1565, as noted by an inscription in the prayer room. The building has 130 student dormitory cells arranged around a courtyard decorated with intricate carvings in cedar, marble, and stucco. Following Islamic traditions, the carvings include no images of people or animals, only inscriptions and geometric patterns. One well-known teacher at the school was Mohammed al-Ifrani (1670–1745). After being temporarily closed in 1960, the building was restored and opened to the public as a historical site in 1982.
Sport
Football clubs in Marrakesh include Najm de Marrakech, KAC Marrakech, Mouloudia de Marrakech, and Chez Ali Club de Marrakech. The city has a race track called Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan, which holds the World Touring Car Championship and the FIA Formula E since 2017. The Marrakech Marathon is also held there. About 5,000 runners participate in the event each year. Another event in Marrakech is the Grand Prix Hassan II tennis tournament, which is played on clay courts and is part of the ATP World Tour series.
Golf is a popular sport in Marrakesh. The city has three golf courses located just outside the city limits. These courses can be played almost all year. The three main courses are Golf de Amelikis, which is on the road to Ourazazate; Palmeraie Golf Palace, which is near the Palmeraie; and the Royal Golf Club, which is the oldest of the three courses.
Transport
BRT Marrakesh, a bus rapid transit system that uses trolleybuses, was opened in 2017.
The Marrakesh railway station is connected to several trains that operate daily to other major cities in Morocco, including Casablanca, Tangiers, Fez, Meknes, and Rabat. The Casablanca–Tangier high-speed rail line was opened in November 2018.
The main roads in and around Marrakesh are well paved. The major highway linking Marrakesh to Casablanca in the north is the A7, a toll expressway that is 210 kilometers (130 miles) long. The road from Marrakesh to Settat, which is 146 kilometers (91 miles) long, was opened in April 2007 by King Mohammed VI. This completed the 558-kilometer (347-mile) highway connecting Marrakesh to Tangiers. The A7 highway also connects Marrakesh to Agadir, which is 233 kilometers (145 miles) to the southwest.
The Marrakesh-Menara Airport (RAK) is located 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) southwest of the city center. It is an international airport that serves flights from Europe, the United States, and several Arab countries, as well as flights from Casablanca. The airport is at an elevation of 471 meters (1,545 feet) and is located at coordinates 31°36′25″N 008°02′11″W. It has two main passenger terminals, which are combined into one large terminal. A third terminal is currently under construction. The existing terminals, T1 and T2, provide 42,000 square meters of space and can handle 4.5 million passengers each year. The airport’s runway is 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) long and 45 meters (148 feet) wide. The airport has parking space for 14 Boeing 737 aircraft and four Boeing 747 aircraft. The separate freight terminal has 340 meters (3,700 square feet) of covered space.
Healthcare
Marrakesh has been an important center for healthcare in Morocco for many years. Both people living in the city and those in nearby rural areas depend on hospitals in Marrakesh. A psychiatric hospital built by the Almohad caliph Ya'qub al-Mansur in the 12th century was called one of the greatest hospitals in the world at that time by a historian named 'Abd al-Wahid al-Marrakushi. During this period, the influence of Andalusi culture was strong. One of the doctors at the hospital was from Denia, a city in eastern Spain. Many of the caliphs' personal doctors also came from places like Seville, Zaragoza, and Beja.
In the last ten years, the growing population of Marrakesh has put a lot of pressure on the city's healthcare facilities. Ibn Tofail University Hospital is one of the main hospitals in the city. In February 2001, the Moroccan government signed an agreement with The OPEC Fund for International Development to get an eight-million U.S. dollar loan. This money was used to improve medical services in and around Marrakesh. It led to the expansion of Ibn Tofail and Ibn Nafess hospitals. Seven new buildings were constructed, covering a total floor area of 43,000 square meters (460,000 square feet). New medical equipment and radiotherapy machines were added. Also, 29,000 square meters (310,000 square feet) of existing hospital space was repaired.
In 2009, King Mohammed VI opened a new regional psychiatric hospital in Marrakesh. The hospital was built by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity and cost 22 million dirhams (about 2.7 million U.S. dollars). The hospital has 194 beds and covers an area of 3 hectares (7.4 acres). King Mohammed VI has also announced plans to build a military hospital in Marrakesh that will cost 450 million dirhams.
Notable people
- Ibn al-Banna' al-Marrakushi, 13th-century mathematician and astronomer
- 'Abd al-Wahid al-Marrakushi, 13th-century historian
- Ibn 'Idhari, 13th/14th-century historian
- Muhammad al-Ifrani, 17th/18th-century historian and biographer
- Amine Amamou, footballer
- Ahmed Bahja, former footballer
- Hasna Benhassi, former middle-distance runner
- Mahi Binebine, painter and novelist
- Tahar El Khalej, former footballer
- Abdellah Jlaidi, footballer
- Abdelali Mhamdi, professional goalkeeper
- Ahmed Qessab, footballer
- Adil Ramzi, former footballer
- Salaheddine Saidi, footballer
- Tahar Tamsamani, former boxer
- Mordechai Vanunu, Israeli nuclear whistleblower (born in Marrakesh)