Marrakech
City of Morocco, down to the Atlas, of nearly 600 000 inhabitants (the Marrakchi). Marrakech, which gave its name to Morocco, was founded in 1062 by Youssef Ibn Tachfine, descending from the Almoravids. In the past Morocco was known in the East under the name of Marrakech, this name is currently used in Iran, the name of Morocco derivates from the Spanish spelling of Marrakech : Marruecos. The city is divided into two distinct parts which are the médina or the old city and the new city whose centre town is called : Guéliz.
The médina : This oldest part of the city is surrounded of ramparts of a length estimated at approximately 19,3 kilometers and a height which reaches 10 meters at some places and a 2 meters depth, with a total of 202 rectangular towers. It is inside these walls that are the majority of Marrakech monuments, the Souks, the Jemaa el Fna square...
Guéliz : Under the French protectorate, the city has increased out of its ramparts in the zone which is called today Guéliz. It is the center of Marrakech where the most economic activity is concentrated. The name of Guéliz derivates from the name of a hill in the surroundings of this district called in Arabic, at the time of Almohades, 'Ijiliz', and the distortion of this name gave the word Guéliz.
Majorelle : The Majorelle garden a small island of calm and freshness is located in the heart of the city. Its notoriety was only growing these last years, and that is quite legitimate. The garden takes the name of its creator, Jacques Majorelle a painter and great amateur of botanic. Arrived in 1917 to Marrakech due to Tuberculosis, he creates a garden around his workshop. It is an ideal place for cactées and rare essences amateurs. Splendid bougainvilleas spread an odor in all the property.
Medersa Ben Youssef : Medersa Ben Youssef is one of the jewels of Marrakech. The current structure of this Koranic school was built around 1570 by the Saadians and was restored in 1950. The Medersa Ben Youssef is one of the historic buildings most important in Marrakech. It is also one of the greatest Medersa of the Maghreb countries. It was raised by the Saadien Abd Allah Al Ghalib in 1564-1565, this has been attested by inscriptions on the capitals in the prayer room and on the lintel of the entry. The Medersa has a quadrilateral plan of a surface of 1680 m2, it includes a prayer room and bedrooms for the 130 students. The Medersa constitutes a true reflection of the magnificence of the Saadien art.
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