GEOLOGY OF THE SURROUNDINGS OF MARRAKECH

GEOLOGY OF THE SURROUNDINGS OF MARRAKECH Mount Toubkal: GEOLOGY OF THE SURROUNDINGS OF MARRAKECH On a local geological map we see 3 main groups: The Haouz The High Atlas of Marrakech The Jebilets The city of Marrakech is built on a large sloping surface from the feet of the High Atlas in the south to the valley of the Wadi Tensift: the plain, or rather the piedmont, of Haouz. To the north extend the peeled hills of Jebilets crossed by the road to Casablanca. The Haouz plain is made up of the products of the erosion of the High Atlas mountains by torrents. These torrential alluviums are made up of gravel and gravel and silt, particularly suitable for the cultivation of fruit trees. The Jebilet are mainly made up of old detrital sediments deposited in the primary era, then folded and faulted and recrystallized, predominantly gray to yellowish in color. They represent the heavily eroded remains of an ancient mountain range. The High Atlas of Marrakech is a young mountain range, contemporary with the Alps in Europe. It consists of sedimentary rocks of reddish color (sandstone, sandstone clays) or yellowish-white (limestone) mainly deposited in the marine environment during the secondary era and which were folded and fractured during the tertiary era. These rocks are based on an older set of rather grayish to yellowish color, which was folded and fractured during the primary era like the Jebilet. This “Hercynian base” outcrops in the center of the chain, as in Tizi n’Tichka, Jebel Toubkal, it includes grayish schists and in particular granites. Elements of geology for tourists in a hurry The geology of the Marrakech region provides a good illustration of continental drift (plate tectonics) which can be summarized as follows: – the continental masses move away (extension): the liberated spaces fill with marine sediments – the continental masses approach and collide (convergence and compression): the sediments fold, fracture, and form a mountain chain. In the Marrakech region, the first well-known mountain range was formed during the Precambrian era, around 1 billion years ago. It was eroded during a large part of the primary era during a period of extension and provided the materials for marine sediments of the primary era, here especially detrital sediments (pebbles, sands, etc.)At the end of the primary era, the continental masses approach, and the sediments are deformed and build a new mountain chain, the Hercynian chain, in Europe and Morocco. Its remains are still clearly visible in the Jebilet massif and in the axis of the High Atlas of Marrakech. Primary lands deformed by the Hercynian orogeny: 1. Sandstone and primary folded schites 2. Flaw in a pleated ensemble. In turn, the latter is eroded during the extension period of the secondary era; marine spaces are filled with debris (detrital sediments) and limestone rocks produced by the activity of living marine beings (corals). Extension fractures allow volcanic products to rise (basalt flows). The red layers of the Permo-Triassic: 3 and 4. the “Grés de l’Oukaïmeden” 5. Fine clayey sandstone (siltstone) and sandstone 6. sloping surface of the Oukaïmeden sandstone, red siltstones, and gray basalt flow. Finally, the convergence of the continents during the tertiary era produced the uplifting of the alpine chain which extends over Europe and North Africa and of which the High Atlas of Marrakech is a part. The current Quaternary era is again a period of calm with the erosion of the reliefs and accumulation of detrital at their feet and beyond. Road routes The 3 roads which from Marrakech enter the High Atlas provide a good example of the different rocks constituting the High Atlas. 1.Ourika Valley, Oukaimeden: the red rocks of the Permo-Triassic (end of Primary-beginning of Secondary) are dominant. The sandstones from cliffs. Above the fine clayey sandstones (siltstones) lie flows of altered yellowish-gray basaltic lava. 2. Tizi n’Tichka road: it crosses the red layers, basalts, and very deformed dark schists and sandstones of the Primary 3. Tizi n’Test route: first small massifs of primary rocks (Guemassa), then the red series and Primary rocks as on the Tizi n’Tichka route. Fossils and minerals Primary: trilobites (actually collected further south in the same land) Secondary: quartz geodes (amethyst) in the volcanic flows of the Triassic To know more… Piqué A. (1994) – Geology of Morocco. Pumag, Rabat. Saadi M. (1982) – Structural map of Morocco. Ministry of Energy and Mines, Rabat. Mount Toubkal featured treks: Toubkal National Park summer Trek 8 days From the Atlas to the heart of the medina of Marrakech, this Moroccan adventure offers us an astonishing combination of sporting challenge, magical encounters and spectacular landscapes. We will experience the hospitality of the Berber people in the High Atlas region where the highest peaks are located, including Toubkal at 4,167 m … From the top, the reward is fantastic: a panorama over the whole region. Day 1:Marrakech – Imlil (1750m) – Camp of Toubkal (3200m) Transfer to Imlil, from where we will start our trek. We will first cross magnificent gardens and apple and walnut orchards to arrive in Aremd. Our path continues on a mule trail very popular with pilgrims from Sidi Chamharouch, marabout confined under a white rock at the corner of the two wadis. Continue to the two shelters to camp nearby. Dinner and overnight in tents. Walking time: 5h. Elevation: + 1450m. Transfer time: 1h30 Day2: Ascent of Toubkal (4167m) Departure at dawn by a steep and rocky path without any difficulty to arrive at the highest peak of Morocco and North Africa. Magnificent view on the chain of the High Atlas and the neighboring valleys, the Siroua and the borders of the desert. Descent to base camp. Dinner and overnight in tents. Walking time: 5 to 6 hours. Difference in height: + 1000m / – 1000m. Day3: Ascent of Timzguida Ouanoukrim (4089m) and Ras Ouanoukrim (4083m) Very early departure for the ascent of the second highest peak of the Atlas. Climb to the Tizi Ouaguane pass (3750m). Passage through

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The 21 Best Day Trips from Marrakech

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what to do in Marrakech Marrakech Day Trips The 21 Best Day Trips from Marrakech What are the best day trips from Marrakech? Walking in the Atlas Mountains, admiring the dunes in a hot air balloon, marveling at the architecture and prehistoric ruins, or even strolling in the colorful and lively souks, the day trips from Marrakech are multiple and impressive. Best of all? For most of these tours, you can leave Marrakech in the morning and come back the same day! Read on, choose your favorite destination and have a wonderful experience! 1- Essaouira Let yourself be transported through the narrow and fortified streets of the Essaouria medina, with slight European influences (but the majority of which is North African in style). This trip to Essaouira also gives you the opportunity to discover the beautiful Moroccan coast. On this tour, you will see how the modern world blends harmoniously with ancient architecture and history. It is also important to note that Essaouira is considered a World Heritage Site! Essaouira Day Trip From Marrakech start from 45 Euro 2 – Ouzoud waterfalls Explore the bustling streets of Marrakech and immerse yourself in the depths of nature. At Ouzoud Falls, you can marvel at how the stunning waterfall, nestled between layers of flora, falls over a massive rock face. Close to the sparkling waterfalls you will find the Al Abid River, where you can cool off. Don’t forget to watch out for the monkeys swinging from tree to tree! Immersing yourself in nature against a backdrop of spectacular images of flora and fauna makes for an unparalleled day trip from Marrakech. Waterfalls Day Trip From Marrakech start from 45 Euro 3 – Palm grove Located just outside Marrakech, the Palmeraie is the easiest opportunity to leave the noisy and bustling city for a pleasant camel ride. The local guides are known to be welcoming, and they will do their best to provide an authentic perspective on Moroccan culture: a tea break is always included! Palm grove Day Trip From Marrakech start from 35 Euro 4 – Merzouga Desert Let yourself be enveloped by the calm and inexplicable beauty of the Merzouga desert. Whether it’s riding a camel through the smooth dunes of Erg Chebbi, watching the sun emerge from the depths of the sand, camping under the hundreds of stars of a Bedouin encampment or trekking the High Atlas Mountains , it’s safe to say that this magical, peaceful and thrilling three-day desert tour from Marrakech will leave a clear picture in your mind for years to come. Merzouga Desert Day Tours From Marrakech 5 – Agadir Fancy a luxurious but quiet getaway? The lines of palm trees, the white and sandy coasts and the beach bars of Agadir are calling to you. Agadir, although seaside and touristy, offers a range of activities. The day trip from Marrakech will introduce you to Agadir’s collection of great sites, such as the fish market, Agadir beach, the medina, and more. You may be able to choose your destinations depending on your visit! Agadir Day Tours From Marrakech 6 – Ouarzazate This day trip from Marrakech will introduce you to “African Hollywood”. Ouarzazate may be the largest city in Morocco, but its architecture and stunning beauty will distract you from the many tourists who stroll around the area. En route to Ouarzazate, you will stop at the UNESCO heritage site, Ait Benhaddou. And this site has attracted filmmakers for many years! Ouarzazate has a few interesting destinations including the Taourirt Kasbah, which gives you a glimpse into the lavish lifestyles of the past. Ouarzazate Day Tours From Marrakech 7 – Mount Toubkal Escape the desert, the cities and climb to the top of North Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Toubkal. The snow-capped peaks of the summit will bring you a different vision of Morocco. En route to the top of Jebel Toubkal, you will discover the village of Imil and hike near the sanctuary of Sidi Chamharouch. During this trek, you will discover incredible landscapes and cross varied terrain. Allow time, as the entire trip will take three days. Toubkal trekking Tours From Marrakech 8 – Casablanca Most of you may know Casablanca from the iconic 1945 film of the same name, but the city also offers a plethora of beautiful historical sites to visit. The day trip from Marrakech to the Atlantic coast will allow you to discover the main sites of the Moroccan city: eat seafood at the central market, admire the intricate design of the royal palace and patrol the Habous district, built in France. Toubkal trekking Tours From Marrakech 9 – Asni and Imlil Most of you may know Casablanca from the iconic 1945 film of the same name, but the city also offers a plethora of beautiful historical sites to visit. The day trip from Marrakech to the Atlantic coast will allow you to discover the main sites of the Moroccan city: eat seafood at the central market, admire the intricate design of the royal palace and patrol the Habous district, built in France. Asni and Imlil day Tours From Marrakech 10 – Atlas Mountains Escape to the ever-vast Atlas Mountains for a breath of fresh air and a glimpse into Moroccan culture. This eye-opening excursion will take you to Imlil where you can sip mint tea, dine with a Berber family, and learn a wealth of facts about the history of the region. Besides the cultural experience, the terraced fields, bordered by walnut and cherry trees, will undoubtedly provide you with many images that will amaze you for many years to come. Atlas Mountains day Tours From Marrakech 11 – Desert of Zagora Vous avez quelques jours de libre ? Si oui, le désert de Zagora vous attend ! Cette excursion de deux jours vous transportera de la ville colorée et animée de Marrakech au calme et sublime désert de Zagora, où vous monterez à dos de chameau pour assister au lever et au coucher du soleil. Et

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National Park of Toubkal

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Hamish Brown The Mountains Look on Marrakesh Morocco has been an abiding passion of mine for more years than I care to remember. This walk took place in 1995, when I walked across the Atlas Mountains from end to end. It was around 900 miles and took 96 days – and it was absolute heaven! Usually people go walking to break from the routine, but after a trip lasting 3 months it’s the walking that becomes the routine! Reasons you need to know Toubkal is the best: We started up in the north-east at a place called Taza, and finished on the Atlantic coast down at Tamri. Charles and I were both celebrating our 60th birthdays, but the most important man in the quartet was this man Ali. He’s good with animals, he cooks and he makes bread. He’s a Berber rather than an Arab, as are the other people living around the Atlas mountains. He speaks both those languages and English as well. And we needed someone else, so Ali chose Hussein, who only spoke Berber. We had two mules, which we called Taza and Tamri. Like any expedition, a lot of hard work goes on that you don’t see. Here’s a picture of me in my hotel room in Marrakesh on the evening before we started, with the provisions for the trip spread out on the bed, so I had to get them packed up before I could get some sleep. Once we were above 2000m, we hardly went below that height during the expedition. You can see how cold it was from the frost on the tent. The daily routine was that the mules were loaded in the morning after we had set off, they walked twice as fast and passed us, and the tent would be pitched ready by the time we reached the next camp site. We were walking through ever-changing landscapes, and climbing some of the mountains was a bonus. There are these incredible cedar forests, which is one of Morocco’s best-kept secrets. And there are these Barbary apes. The expedition started in March and finished in early July. In the first few weeks we had some appalling weather. The route was supposed to cross a high plateau cut into by some deep gorges, but at first the tracks were impassable with snow so we had to go down lower. This was good because it meant we visited new places. We were taken in by families, they were so hospitable, they made us meals and baked bread every day, but they wouldn’t take any payment. We had to get round this in some way, for example by giving something for the children. This is the only place with pitched roofs in the country, and there’s plenty of timber. They had a lot of snow while we were there – they dislike it as it lies on the roof and can leak through. At one point we were desperately going through the tall oleander bushes, ankle deep in water, trying to find a dry spot for the tent. You have to take the risk of spate seriously – a rush of water can come down a valley like an express train and could have swept us away, so we had to take care where to pitch a tent. After another diversion we eventually came out of the Middle Atlas onto a wide plain, which took us two days to cross to reach the High Atlas. We came to Imilchil, known as the “Lhasa of Morocco”, which is a town high up in the mountains with some of the old architecture. We were there for souk day, which is a weekly market, really it’s their supermarket [colourful photos of goods on sale]. Once two people shake hands on a deal, that’s it. There’s a lot of recycling goes on, with things made from scrap – old oil cans, coffee tins, tyres, all turned into something useful. The Central Atlas is a popular area with Jebel Azourki the highest mountain [9th highest in Morocco at 3677m]. It was still under snow and we were diverted, but saw other mountains. For example we saw the “Cathedral” – and decided to come back another time to climb it. There’s a big valley, the Zaoui Ahancal valley, with the town of Ahancal with fine old buildings and a remarkable gorge. We had a spare day here so it was a chance for Charles to try riding a mule – he said never again! This area is called the Chamonix of Morocco – it has the gorge and cliffs twice as high as Ben Nevis. The people count their wealth in sheep and goats. We tried to climb Azourki, but didn’t get up because of the snow, requiring ice axes, crampons etc. It was the only failure of the 30 summits we took in on the trip. Then we reached this upland valley, called “la Vallee Heureuse” – it once had a lake here so the ground is very fertile and produces good crops. We spent three days there and from then on we were joined by small groups of friends who joined us for stints of a fortnight each. No two door designs are the same. The mules needed servicing [someone working on the hooves of one of them]. No mules had been asked before to walk 96 days, so they couldn’t grow the horny bits fast enough. At the end, Ali and Hussein got the mules rather than payment. There’s a lot of bare strata in the mountains, unlike in Scotland, where everything is grown over. We went through a pass, the Tizi Tighfist, with wonderful prehistoric art from about 4000 BC, and you can clearly see that they show shields and hyenas. We were there for an important Islamic sheep festival and had to buy one. We had mutton for a week! There’s a huge block of a mountain, Jebel Rhat, that you can just see from Marrakesh – it would take about a week to walk round it and we wanted to include it. We got marvellous food prepared for us,

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Top 10 Treks in Morocco

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The Amazing 10 Treks in Morocco Morocco is undoubtedly the most interesting trekking land in the Maghreb, the most varied also alternating high desert mountains, green valleys, dry canyons, oases, and dunes. In the hollow of the valleys, the Berber villages welcome hikers with their legendary hospitality. A great opportunity to discuss and discover Berber traditions still alive. After 8 trips to Morocco, here are my top 10 treks in Morocco. I have almost all done them. Toubkal Ascent The best known and also the most popular of all routes in Morocco, the Toubkal trek is nevertheless a great classic that I have not done. According to many friends who have climbed it on a 2, 6 or 12 day trek, it is splendid. Depending on the duration of the trek, we start from Imlil (2-day version), Ouakaimedem or Aguersioual (1-week version) but other options are possible and for the longest trek, there are even more variants Mgoun Ascent This is the first trek I have done in Morocco, it was in 2003 if I remember correctly. Before the days of I-Trekkings. And what a trek! Departing from the valley of Aït Bougmez, we reached the summit of M’Goun before moving onto the southern slope of the massif through the gorges of M’Goun and ending with the valley of Roses at El Kelaâ M’Gouna. 11 days of walking. My first experience was with a local agency as well and with Moroccan hospitality. A trek that somehow contributed to my desire to create Trekking holidays in Morocco. Alas, I no longer have the story. Some silver photos remain in an old photo album. Eastern High Atlas The best known and also the most popular of all routes in Morocco, the Toubkal trek is nevertheless a great classic that I have not done. According to many friends who have climbed it on a 2, 6 or 12 day trek, it is splendid. Depending on the duration of the trek, we start from Imlil (2-day version), Ouakaimedem or Aguersioual (1-week version) but other options are possible and for the longest trek, there are even more variants Aït Bougmez valley Softer, the Aït Bougmez valley, the “happy valley”, lends itself to pretty walks through fields and villages. It’s not really a trek or it has to be joined to a larger route like on my ascent of M’Goun or in the Eastern High Atlas.I even stayed there for a week on one of my trips to Morocco. Leaving from an ecolodge, I explored across and across the valley and even a little beyond: the Aït Boulli valley or the Izourar plateau. Great crossing of the High Atlas This is the trek that I would like to do. In the catalog of major French trekking agencies, the route begins in Iskattafen on the heights of Aït Bougmez.In 17 days of walking, heading towards Imlil. Along the way, ascent of M’Goun, Anghomar and Toubkal (at the end) and passage through the Tessaout valley. A major route. The Saghro mountains We take the southern route for the following 5 treks. Starting with Jebel Sargho, sometimes nicknamed the Moroccan Hoggar. It is a pre-Saharan massif that will appeal to minerality lovers: tabular plateaus, basalt columns and dry wadis make up the landscape.It is not uncommon depending on the season to meet Aït Atta nomads. Jebel Siroua Another massif in the Anti-Atlas, the Jebel Siroua trek is an itinerary that has excited me. Not many people are going to walk there, it is incomprehensible, especially since it is the only region of Morocco to cultivate saffron.The 5-day trek starts from the village of Tamazight and ends in Ifrane. The massif is inhabited in its northern and southern parts, where you cross beautiful villages in mud houses surrounded by almond trees. In the center, it is the silence of the mountain that accompanies hikers. A real favorite! The Anti-Atlas around Tafraoute The Tafraoute mountains are the 3rd massif which constitutes the Anti-Atlas. But unlike Siroua and Saghro, the Tafraoute sector is wetter because it is closer to the Atlantic Ocean. Depending on the recent rainfall, the landscapes are more or less green, which offers a striking contrast between the green of the valleys and the pink of the rocks. Again, few hikers in this magnificent sector. Dunes and oasis of Draa Let’s finish these top 10 treks in Morocco with two desert routes. Departing from the Draa oasis, we discover the abundant life of this string of adobe villages and then step into the desert. The week ends in the heart of the dunes of Erg Houidi before reaching the Ksar de Bouno and the palm grove of Oulad Idriss. Camel trek in the Moroccan Sahara This time starting from Oulad Idriss, this itinerary in the Moroccan Sahara explores the western part of the dunes of the palm grove located between Wadi Draa and Jebel Bani. 6 days of walking on a very beautiful itinerary alternating ergs and regs, all the ways of the Moroccan desert in one trip. I highly recommend. Home to some of the most beautiful mountains in the world, Morocco lends itself to hiking all year round. In summer, you can climb Jebel Toubkal, the highest point in North Africa, while in winter, when the snow makes the High Atlas impassable, Jebel Sarhro remains accessible. The Rif chain is ideal for mid-season.

The must things to do in Marrakech

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Visit Marrakech: what are the best things to do and see in the Red City? Lively and exciting destination, Marrakech offers a perfect blend of culture, stunning landscapes, and fascinating architecture. The one nicknamed “The Pearl of the South” or “The Red City”, although it is said to be disfigured by mass tourism has a myriad of places of interest that will not make you hesitate twice when You will need to take your plane tickets to visit Marrakech! To help you organize your stay more easily, we have listed the best things to do in Marrakech for you. So what should you visit in Marrakech to make sure you don’t miss a thing in the city? Follow the leader! The palm grove of Marrakech The Palmeraie de Marrakech has more than 100,000 trees on approximately 15,000 hectares, mainly palm trees as well as a date production and a vegetable garden. It is a well-known natural and tourist heritage in Morocco that you absolutely must-do if you come to visit Marrakech.In addition, it is possible to explore this place on a camel ride or during a quad ride! The Ouzoud waterfalls Located about 150 kilometers from Marrakech, it is impossible to miss the Ouzoud waterfalls if you come to visit Marrakech! Considered to be the most beautiful and highest waterfalls in Morocco, you can then swim, have a picnic, but also meet the local monkeys. The Majorelle Garden Unmissable in the new town: the Majorelle Garden (botanical garden with bluish colors). The garden belonged to fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. When he died in 2008, his ashes were scattered around the garden. If you like gardens, read our article “Visit the Gardens and Ramparts of Marrakech”. The Marrakech Museum In addition to learning about the history of Marrakech, a visit to the Marrakech Museum will give you the opportunity to appreciate one of the most beautiful architecture in the city. Located in the center of Marrakech, this is a must do in Marrakech!The museum is housed in the Dar Mnebhi Palace which was built at the end of the 19th century and is a perfect example of classical Andalusian architecture. The atlas mountains A few hours by car from Marrakech, the Ourika Valley in the Moroccan High Atlas is a real sight to see. The temperature can drop, so bring a small sweater or jacket and take your best walking shoes.The path in the mountain is rocky, you will cross small bridges over the rivers which flow on the sides of the mountain. The view from the mountains is superb and well worth a day trip. The bazaars Going to the souks is a must if you visit Marrakech. The souks are great for getting a good deal, but you have to be willing to haggle to get a good price. You are even expected to do so!How to negotiate? As a rule of thumb, halve the price offered to you, and negotiate from it. Don’t necessarily feel like you have to buy, as you might be intimidated, but don’t give up if you’re not happy with the price. Jemaa el-Fna Square You will surely pass on the Place Jemaa el-Fna (“place of the dead”) if you come to visit Marrakech. This famous public square attracts over a million visitors each year. “The cultural space of Jemaa el-Fna” has been registered as intangible cultural heritage since 2008 and as a world heritage since 1985 by Unesco.It’s its traditional and popular side that appeals, especially at night! We can especially meet snake charmers. So if you are not afraid of the crowds and want to taste the good atmosphere of the city, you know what to do in Marrakech. The Koutoubia Mosque This magnificent 12th century Sunni mosque, whose minaret overlooks the surroundings, is one of the must-see places in Marrakech. Its architecture and ascetic decor perfectly illustrate the art of the Almohads!Be careful though because you will not be able to enter if you are not a Muslim! Medersa Ben-Youssef The Medersa Ben-Youssef is a medersa, in other words a Koranic school, with breathtaking Moorish architecture that you should not miss if you come to visit Marrakech! Menara Gardens What to do in Marrakech when you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city? Between ponds and olive trees, it is in the Menara gardens that you can come and recharge your batteries.Arranged under the Almoahades dynasty, they are located about 45 minutes walk from Jemaa el-Fna square, in central Marrakech. Bahia Palace Visiting Marrakech without visiting its magnificent palaces is impossible! Former nineteenth-century palace of eight hectares, the Bahia Palace is one of the masterpieces of Moroccan architecture and Islamic art, one of the major monuments of the country’s cultural heritage, and one of the main places of tourism in Morocco! Bab Agnaou Built in the 12th century during the Almohad dynasty, Bab Agnaou is one of the nineteen Bab, or gates, of Marrakech. This is the entrance to the royal kasbah!You will find it in the southern part of the medina of Marrakech. C’est son côté traditionnel et populaire qui séduit, et particulièrement la nuit ! On peut notamment rencontrer des charmeurs de serpent. Alors si vous n’avez pas peur des bains de foule et que vous voulez goûter à la bonne ambiance de la ville, vous savez quoi faire à Marrakech. Medina of Marrakech Historic heart of Marrakech, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Medina is the place to go if you want to visit Marrakech and its historical and traditional side!Stroll around this part of the city and be sure to visit the many historical monuments that can be found there. Some are in this article! The Secret Garden What else to do in Marrakech? The Secret Garden! An elegant 19th century palace renovated recently, it stands out for its splendid decoration and its traditional exotic and Islamic gardens.You will find it near the Medersa Ben Youssef in the Mouassine district of

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Marrakech city

Articles / Trekkingholidays

The Famous Marrakech city Marrakech (in Arabic: مُرَاكُش, murrākuš; in Berber: ⵎⵕⵕⴰⴽⵛ, Meṛṛakc), is a city located in central Morocco at the foot of the Atlas Mountains4. Marrakech is nicknamed “the red city” N 1 or the “ocher city” in reference to the red color of a large part of its buildings and houses5. Marrakech and its urban area have in 2020 a little more than one million inhabitants 2. By its population, the city is the third agglomeration of the country, on a par with its historical rival, Fez, and behind Casablanca. Imperial city, like Fez, Rabat and Meknes, Marrakech was the capital of Morocco for nearly 350 years, under the Almoravid (11th – 12th centuries), Almohad (12th – 13th centuries), Saadian (16th – 17th centuries) dynasties ), as well as during the reign of Mohammed ben Abdallah of the current Alawite dynasty (reigning from 1757 to 1790). Marrakech is home to a vast medina of 600 hectares, the most populous in North Africa, and classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Thanks to the vitality of its 900-year-old medina, its world-class hotel infrastructures, and its sunny climate, Marrakech has established itself as the undisputed capital of tourism in Morocco. Served by the country’s second airport in terms of traffic, Marrakech – Menara airport, the city welcomed nearly 3 million visitors in 2019. Origin of the Marrakech Before travel Several hypotheses coexist as to the origin of the name of the city. The most widespread among historians considers that the name of Marrakech is a contraction of the Berber Amur n’Akush. Amur means “country” and Akouch, or Yakouch means “God”, which gives “the land of God” 6. A less widespread alternative etymology proposes the interpretation of “land of the course” . Medieval Arabic-speaking sources have been numerous to offer fanciful Arabic origins in the name of Marrakech. Some of these etymologies have been taken up in contemporary works. For Louis Deroy and Marianne Mulon, for example, authors of the Dictionary of place names, the name comes from the Arabic Marruquch “la bien parée” 8 from رقش “to ornament, embellish”. Origin of the name Several hypotheses coexist as to the origin of the name of the city. The most widespread among historians considers that the name of Marrakech is a contraction of the Berber Amur n’Akush. Amur means “country” and Akouch, or Yakouch means “God”, which gives “the land of God” 6. A less widespread alternative etymology proposes the interpretation of “land of the course”. Medieval Arabic-speaking sources have been numerous to offer fanciful Arabic origins in the name of Marrakech. Some of these etymologies have been taken up in contemporary works. For Louis Deroy and Marianne Mulon, for example, authors of the Dictionary of place names, the name comes from the Arabic Marruquch “the well adorned” from رقش “to ornament, embellish”. Name influence The word “Morocco” and its equivalents in various European languages are directly derived from the word “Marrakech”. From the 1130s, sixty years after the founding of the city, the name appears in Latin sources to designate the capital of the Almoravid empire6. In the fourteenth century, we identify the forms “Marroch” in Catalan (from which the French name derives), “Marruecos” in Castilian, “Morrocco” in Tuscan, and “Marrocos” in Portuguese, undoubtedly the oldest form, the ” ‘s final being hissed in Portuguese. In the fifteenth century, Portugal exerted strong military pressure on Morocco. The country is split in two, the Wattassids having Fez as their capital and reigning over the north of Morocco and the Hintata then the Saadian sheriffs reigning over Marrakech and the south of the country. European geographic literature then endorses the idea that the Maghreb al-Aqsa is made up of the kingdoms of Fez and Morocco. It is finally the name of the capital of the south ends up imposing itself on the whole country. In addition, until the twentieth century, Morocco was known in the East under the name of Marrakech (a name still relevant in Iran). During the Almohad period, Marrakech was famous for its leather craftsmanship. The tanning of the skins was already carried out there in the tanneries of Bab Debbagh in the east of the city. The leather accessories made in Marrakech were so famous that we began to speak in Castile of marroquinería to designate them. This term ended up spreading in other languages such as French, the “leather goods” being used to designate the activity as well as the articles using as main material the leather. Histoire Capitale des empires almoravide et almohade Marrakech (Mourrakouch) was founded in the year 1071 (year 463 of the Hegira) by the Berber sovereign Sanhadjiens Almoravid Youssef ben Tachfine11 and his queen Zaynab Nefzaouia, also of Berber origin. Very quickly, in Marrakech, under the leadership of the Almoravids, pious warriors and austere scholars from the current Mauritanian desert, many mosques and madrasahs (Koranic theological schools) were built, as well as a shopping center draining traffic between the Western Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa. Marrakech grew rapidly and established itself as an influential cultural and religious metropolis, supplanting Aghmat and Sijilmassa. Palaces were also built and decorated with the help of Andalusian craftsmen from Cordoba and Seville, who brought the Umayyad style characterized by chiseled cupolas and multi-lobed arches. This Andalusian influence merged with Saharan and West African elements and was synthesized in an original architecture totally adapted to the specific environment of Marrakech. The city became the capital of the Almoravid Emirate, a Eurafrican empire that stretched from the banks of the Senegal River to the center of the Iberian Peninsula and from the Moroccan Atlantic coast to Algiers. The city was then fortified by the son of Youssef Ibn Tachfin, Ali Ben Youssef, who built around 1122-1123 ramparts that are still visible. While Youssef Ben Tachfine led victorious campaigns in Al-Andalus, subduing the kinglets of the taifas and repelling the offensives of Castile and Aragon, his wife Zaynab Nefzaouia exercised in Marrakech an important power, with all the

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