المغرب AL-MAĠHRIB	MOROCCO
region: مراكش - آسفي (Murrākuš - Āsfī)	Marrakech-Safi

map →

Marrakech (Arabic: مراكش, DIN 31635: Murrākuš) (Tamazight: ⵎⴻⵕⵕⴰⴽⴻⵛ, Mɛṛṛakɛʃ) is situated at an elevation of 450 m in a plain north of the High Atlas mountain range in central Morocco, about 327 km southwest of the Moroccan capital of Rabat, 239 km south of Casablanca, 580 km southwest of Tangier and 246 km northeast of Agadir. Marrakech is the capital of the region Marrakech-Safi and of the prefecture Marrakech. The municipality has a population of about 4.6 million. The historical town centre, together with the Agdal gardens and the Menara garden, have been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1985.

The region has been inhabited by Berber farmers since Neolithic times. The city was founded in 1062 as the imperial capital of the Almoravid Empire. The city was one of Morocco's four imperial cities. In the 12th century, the Almoravids built many madrasas (Quranic schools) and mosques in Marrakech that bear Andalusian influences. The red walls of the city, built in 1122–1123, and various buildings constructed in red sandstone during this period, have given the city the nickname of the "Red City" or "Ochre City". Marrakech grew rapidly and established itself as a cultural, religious, and trading center for the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa. After a period of decline, the city was surpassed by Fez, but in the early 16th century, Marrakech again became the capital of the kingdom. The city regained its preeminence under the wealthy Saadian sultans who embellished the city with sumptuous palaces and restored many ruined monuments. Beginning in the 17th century, the city became popular among Sufi pilgrims for its seven patron saints who are entombed here. In 1912 the French Protectorate in Morocco was established. The independence of Morocco and the monarchy were reestablished in 1956.

The Koutoubia Mosque [left] is the largest mosque in the city. It was founded in 1147, rebuilt around 1158 and finished with the construction of the minaret possibly around 1195. The building has inspired other buildings such as the Giralda of Seville and the Hassan Tower of Rabat. The mosque is made of red stone and brick and measures 80 metres long and 60 metres wide. The minaret is constructed from sandstone and stands 77 metres high. It was originally covered with Marrakshi pink plaster, but in the 1990s experts opted to remove the plaster to expose the original stone work. The spire atop the minaret is decorated with gilded copper balls that decrease in size towards the top, a style unique to Morocco.

[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marrakesch, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marrakesh; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kutubiyya_Mosque]