Marrakech gave its name to Morocco, if it is no longer the capital, though its prestige has seen many ups and downs for a millennium, according to the ruling dynasties, the "Pearl of the South" still enjoys a enviable location.
Medina whose fortress was built in 1126-1127 was in the Almoravid period. When this dynasty died in 1147, monuments were mostly destroyed. Under the Almohad rulers (1147-1269), Marrakech experienced a new and unprecedented prosperity.
From 1147-1158, the Abd Mou'men erected on the ruins of almoravides foundations, the Koutoubia Mosque, whose minaret 77 meters incomparable essential monument of Islamic architecture, is one of the great landmarks of the urban landscape and the very symbol of the city.
Famous by the Jamaa El Fna, the city's flagship Almoravids is founded around 1070 and aims to control outlets Atlas nearby. From this rudimentary camp that leave the first military conquests. Abu Bakr, the leader of the Almoravids, began construction of a Kasbah nicknamed the "stone castle", close to the current Koutoubia.
Marrakech became the capital of a vast empire under the reign of Youssef Ben Tachfine to extend under the Almohad to the border of Libya. The first Almohad ruler Abd al-Mu'min, began the construction of the Koutoubia Mosque, his grand-son Yacoub El Mansour will complete a superb minaret, still visible today. His son Youssef dug tanks and built a vast administrative district This is the culmination of Marrakech. Built around the same time that "the Giralda," Seville and "Hassan Tour" of Rabat, the Koutoubia (XI century) is a true masterpiece of Moorish art. Its minaret soars to nearly 70 meters.
The sun illuminates Marrakech. Its rays illuminate the pink marble fountains, invade tiled courtyards, beautiful dangle Zelliges, warm turquoise colors, green, white mosaics, are lost in the stucco of the Bahia Palace and Dar Si Said Today museum containing the quintessence of Moroccan Arts.
You are out of time. In the souk where copper can be the face of a marked concentration wise, with an ancient application, the coppersmiths hammering metal. Or in the souk Laghzal devoted to wool. A el Btana the skins of sheep. Or the souk Zarbia, auction, where carpets and caftans are sold to the highest bidder ... You are elsewhere. Where the scents of saffron, cumin, black pepper, ginger, lemongrass, cloves, orange blossom delight nostrils. You are in the souks of Marrakech.
Places to visit :
The Walls
Created and constructed in the early twelfth century, the imposing walls give a sense of the historical importance of the city. 19km long and flanked by 202 towers, these frames have adobe walls, depending on the lighting, admirable reflections glowing. Nine majestic doors provide access to the medina. Some of them, such as Bab el Bab Agnaou Debbagh and have retained their original architecture and worth a visit.
Jemaa el Fna
This square is the main attraction tourisitique Marrakech. True "den of thieves", it is animated by an intense life where the wretched and sublime blend to provide an amazing spectacle. Onlookers, musicians, shopkeepers, dancers, snake charmers, beggars, healers ... Many-colored and form a motley crowd. At nightfall, the gargotiers settle and instead then transformed into a vast open-air restaurant where you can enjoy for one low price all the local specialties.
The Saadian Tombs
Discovered in 1917 and restored by the Department of Fine Arts, the mausoleum houses the body of a sixty Saadian, including el Mansour, his successors and his family. The building consists of three rooms. The most remarkable is the room where twelve columns are buried Ahmed el Mansour, his son and his grandson, son. This centerpiece, with its columns of Italian marble and its dome cedar wood, is a very fine example of Moorish decorative art. Outside, are the graves of soldiers and servants. You can relax in the garden of the necropolis, a real haven of peace.
Médersa ben Youssef
Madrasa Ben Youssef is one of the most interesting monuments of the city. Built around 1570 by the Saadi, restored in 1960, this Koranic school is the largest in the Maghreb. It could accommodate up to 900 students in only 132 cells! Unusually, the rooms upstairs have windows overlooking seven small "courtyards" inland. Moreover, unlike the Arab-Andalusian architectural tradition, some of its opening facing the medina. The decor is much more classic and will not fail to admire the sculptures in cedar wood, and stucco Zelliges that adorn the monument.
Dar Si Said
Other wonders of this city to the ocher: the museum of Dar Si Said containing the quintessence of Moroccan arts and making glitter ornaments in gold and marble gleaned by Ahmed El Mansour (1578-1603), the most illustrious of the Saadian rulers the Medersa Ben Youssef Koranic school, established in 1570 by Moulay Abdallah, masterpiece Merinid architecture, the garden of Agdal, built in the twelfth century, during the reign of Abdelmoumen; Menara, a magnificent pool surrounded by flowers ...
Palais de la Bahia
This magnificent palace was commissioned in 1880 by Si Moussa and his son Bou Ahmed, both grand viziers sovereign Moulay Hassan and Abdelaziz. Its construction lasted seven long years. Expanded randomly land purchases, the palace is a disorderly succession of luxury apartments opening secrets on patios. The complex was built on one level to facilitate movement of the householder severely disabled by her obesity. Today, only the house of the favorite, the boardroom and the large courtyard can be visited.
Palais el Badi
Built by Ahmed el Mansour in the late sixteenth century, the palace was once regarded as the wonder of the Muslim world. A workers from Europe mutitude participated in the work. Italian marbles, onyx, mosaics and tiles with gold leaf adorned the walls and ceilings of 360 pieces. Unfortunately, a century later, the building was completely destroyed by Moulay Ismail. The recovered materials were used to embellish the imperial palaces of Meknes. It remains today as the structures of the palace. It is in these magnificent ruins that runs the annual Festival of the Moroccan folklore.
garden Majorelle
This enchanting garden was created by the French painter Jacques Majorelle who settled there from 1922 Bought in 1962 by the fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent, the garden has since been completely renovated. Bougainvillea, cypress, palm trees, cactus palm, papyrus ... create a stunning floral decor. The old bright blue painter's villa became a small museum of Islamic art where you can admire carpets and ceramics from different villages of the south.
The Ménara
Since Bab el Jadid (west of the city), the long avenue leading to Menara Menara garden. Symbol of Marrakech as well as the minaret of the Koutoubia, this grove a hundred acres is a place in which to walk. The large pool dug in the center reflects an elegant saadien pavilion that housed the trysts sultans. According to legend, one of them was accustomed, at the first light of day, take the plunge his companion of the night.
The Palmeraie
This circuit can be twenty kilometers during a pleasant carriage ride. The palm has more than one hundred thousand trees. These are irrigated through "khettaras" an ingenious system of underground pipes dating from the twelfth century. It is unfortunate to note the influence of promoters on this space. Soon there will be as many homes as palm ...
Koutoubia Mosque
Begun in 1158 by Sultan Abd Al-Moumen and completed by his grandson, son Abu Yusuf al-Mansur (1184-1199). The second largest mosqée of Morocco takes its name from Koutoubiyne (booksellers) vendors manuscripts twelfth and thirteenth centuries to, there laid down their stalls. It is regarded as being the masterpiece of Almohad architecture. The purity and perfection of its classic lines define this noble and yet simple look, and the richness of its interior design, has shaped the religious art of the Maghreb. Minaret its sandstone became the model for the Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower Rabat.Il rises to 77 meters and serves as a symbol and landmark throughout the city. He is crowned with four balls of brass, for some, they symbolize the five pillars of Islam, for others the sky, earth and water.
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