Morocco
Jardin Majorelle
Jacques Majorelle is born in 1886 in Nancy (France). In 1919 he settles in Marrakech to continue his career of painter, where he acquires a ground which was later going to become the Majorelle garden. Since 1947 he opens his garden's doors to the public. Following a car accident, he returns to France, where he dies in 1962. in 1980 Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent purchase the garden and restore it.
Contrasts, the colours, the light games seem go out of one of the pictures of Jacques Majorelle. It was one of the more important collectors of plants of his era, and this is in this spirit than enlarges itself from day to day the flore of the garden. Plants of the five continents are exposed in an enchanting framework. This that was the workshop of Jacques Majorelle, inspiration place and of contemplation, shelters today the magnificent art collection Islamic of Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent. The originality of these places lies in the combination of a luxurious vegetation and architectural elements allying "sobriété" and traditional aesthetic Moroccan. The power of the blue Majorelle participates in the freshness impression and of quiétude.
Jeema el Fna
Jeema el Fna is the main square of Marrakech, used equally by locals and tourists. During the day it is predominantly occupied by orange juice stalls, youths with chained Barbary apes, water sellers in colourful costumes with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, and snake charmers who will pose for photographs for tourists. As the day progresses the entertainments on offer change: the snake charmers depart, and in the afternoon and evening the square becomes more crowded, with Chleuh dancing-boys (it would be against custom for girls to provide such an entertainment), story-tellers (telling their tales in Berber or Arabic, to an audience of appreciative locals), magicians, and peddlers of traditional medicines. As dark descends the square fills with dozens of food-stalls, and the crowds are at their height.
The square is edged along one side by the Marrakech souk, the traditional North African markets which service both the common daily needs of the people of the city, and the tourist trade. On other sides are cafe terraces to escape from the noise and confusion down in the square, and on yet other sides are hotels and gardens. Narrow streets lead into the alleys of the medina quarter, the old city.
Atlas mountains
The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about 2,500 km through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest peak is the Toubkal mountain, with an elevation of 4,167 metres in southwestern Morocco. The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert. The population of the Atlas Mountains are mainly Berbers.
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are discontinuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke various Berber languages, which together form a branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Today many of them speak Darija and also French in the Maghreb, due to the French colonization of the Maghreb, and especially Spanish in Morocco. Today most Berber-speaking people live in Morocco, Algeria, Libya and Tunisia.
The next couple of pictures are taken at the house of a Berber familly who milled grain for the entire region. The primitive mill was powered by water. People brought the wheat to the mill who kept 10 % of the flour. So the farmer does not have to pay to have the wheat milled. I also had a look in the local bakery. Everything was done manually, no machines whatsoever. To fire the oven, the baker used wood.
Saadian Tombs
Located on the side of the Kasbah mosque, the Saadian tombs are one of the few remnants of the Saadian dynasty that reigned over the golden age of Marrakech from 1524 to 1659. Unfortunately, at the start of the 18th century, the sultan Moulay Ismaïl decided to banish all trace of the magnificence of this dynasty, by demanding the destruction of all remaining remnants. However, he did not dare commit the sacrilege of destroying their graves and ordered that the entrance to the necropolis be walled. The secret was well-kept until 1917, when the site of the Saadian tombs was rediscovered.
Although this royal necropolis was used from the start of the 14th century, its splendour dates back to the 16th century with the burial of Prince Mohamed Cheikh in 1557. His son Ahmed El Mansour, also known as Ahmed “the Golden”, had the place enlarged and made more attractive by having the Koubba “Lalla Mesouada” built after his mother. Lalla Messaouda was buried there in 1591 along with the sultan’s 3 successors.
The most prestigious mausoleum is the twelve-column hall. This hall houses the tomb of the sultan’s son Ahmed El Mansour. The cedar ceilings and plaster walls are finely detailed, and the graves are in Carrare marble. Some tombs have a poetic epitaph. That of Princess Zorha is wonderful: "Here is the tomb of the noble lady, new moon, marvel of virtues."
Ben Youssef Madrasa Koran school
The Ben Youssef Madrasa was an Islamic college in Marrakech and was named after the sultan Ali ibn Yusuf (reigned 1106–1142), who expanded the city and its influence considerably. The college was founded during the period of the Marinid (14th century) by the Marinid sultan Abu al-Hassan and allied to the neighbouring Ben Youssef Mosque. The building of the madrasa, as it is now, was re-constructed by the Saadian Sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib (1557–1574). It is the largest Medrasa in all of Morocco. In 1565 the works ordered by Abdallah al-Ghalib were finished, as confirmed by the inscription in the prayer room. Its 130 student dormitory cells cluster around a courtyard richly carved in cedar, marble and stucco. The carvings contain no representation of humans or animals as required by Islam, and consist entirely of inscriptions and geometric patterns. This madrasa was one of the largest theological colleges in North Africa and may have housed as many as 900 students. One of its best known teachers was Mohammed al-Ifrani (1670-1745).
Riad Andalla
During my stay in Marrakech, I stayed at the Riad Andalla. From the beginning I could tell that I had chosen the right place. The rooftop terrace has superb view over the Jeema el Fna. Five star hospitality and food. The owners, Andre and Christophe really looked after me in a friendly and charming way and gave sound and helpful advice. My room, Kamar which, as Abdou explained, means 1000 moons was atmospheric, beautifully decorated and spotlessly clean. Location could not have been better, literally 1 minute from the square and souks and within walking distance to all the main sights. Abdou and other staff, who prepared excellent meals, were great. I still dream of the zucchini soup I had the first evening, the grilled aubergines layered with cheese, the various "tangines", the fruit salad as desert etc., all prepared in a wonderful manner and served with great care and a superb touch of real hospitality.
Terrace of Riad Andalla as seen from the Jeema el Fna square
Dar Si Said Museum
Dar Si Said Museum is a 19th-century palace dedicated the art of woodwork, in recognition of the decorative and religious arts of south Morocco. First, you are captivated by the Spanish and Moorish splendour of the palace. It contrasts with the white of the walls. You would think yourself in a modern art gallery! Moving from room to room, the visitor is confronted with all types of furniture and fittings, including doors, lintels, pillars, locks, balustrades and the famous moucharabiehs. Flowers, arabesques and calligraphy are carved, cut out or painted on geometric furnishings, with finely worked wood also being the norm for everyday items such as oil presses, musical instruments and fanstasia guns.
Tanneries
The famous Marrakech Tanneries are located to the East of the Medina and offer a fascinating opportunity to see an ancient craft alive and well in the twenty first century. The tanners use their skill and judgement to progress animal hides through a succession of processes essentially unchanged from those used by their forefathers centuries ago. When you visit you will get some fresh mint to put in your nose because the smell (and in that heat) is quite overpowering but with the mint one "survives".
Museum of Marrakech
The Museum of Marrakech is a museum in the old center of Marrakech. The museum is housed in the Dar Menebhi Palace, built at the end of the 19th century by legendary Mehdi Menebhi. The palace was carefully restored by the Omar Benjelloun Foundation and converted into a museum in 1997. The house itself perfectly represents classical Andalusian architecture, with fountains in the central courtyard, traditional seating areas, a hammam and intricate, beautiful tilework and carvings. The museum holds exhibits of both modern and traditional Moroccan art together with fine examples of historical books, coins and pottery of Moroccan Jewish, Berber and Arab cultures.
