Marrakech Destination Guide

PHOTO GALLERY Marrakech

Behind its twelve kilometres of red ochre walls, Marrakech has a thousand-year-old history. Its mosques, fountains, palaces and legendary Jamaâ El-Fna square make it an exclusive cultural destination. Discover the bustle of its souks where countless trades are plied. Stay in a charming riad, o­ne of those fabulous palaces so typical of the imperial city. Enjoy a traditional dish o­n a restaurant patio. Pamper yourself in o­ne of the city’s many hammams. Spend an unforgettable night in o­ne of its trendy nightclubs. Take an excursion to the mountains or the desert. And don’t forget that Marrakech plays host to many events and festivals throughout the year.

Riads. A room in a palace.

The word “riad” evokes the Garden of Eden, Paradise Lost. Going into o­ne is a unique sensation. The visitor enters a place where time stands still, outside the world, a piece of paradise o­n earth.

Staying in a riad for a few days is a delight. A haven of peace, softness and beauty, it is a protected place, sought after by travellers seeking authenticity, intimacy or escapism. Whether for a honeymoon, the need for a break, a cultural stay… here dreams always become reality.

The renovation of the riads, traditional houses built within the medinas, respects traditional architecture. Hidden behind thick walls, they are organised around a patio, an Arabo-Moorish heritage. o­n the upper floor, rooms in subtle colours open o­nto the patio.

To offer foreign visitors unique places to stay, they have been carefully transformed into often quite sumptuous guesthouses. But luxury lies not so much in the superb décor as in the “other world” atmosphere that reigns in them. The walls are coated in tadlak, a blend of lime and pigment, in warm shades, decorated with zelliges and mosaics. The floors are covered with bejmat, and warmed with carpets. The delicate fragrance of orange trees, the subtle murmur of fountains, soft lights, rich silk fabrics… the delicately refined atmosphere is a real enchantment.

From the terraces, you will discover a superb view over the roofs of the medina. Enjoy it at sundown, and let your emotions take over. You are in paradise!

Morocco, land of history

Morocco, with its palaces and monuments, its history and passions, is a country you will fall in love with. It is the Morocco of the ramparts of Marrakech the Red and the Ben Youssef Medersa, of Jemaa-el-Fna square and the Badiaa palace. Or Fez, with the spectacle of the medina, the Kairaouine mosque or the Abou Imania medersa, Fez the cradle of Arabo-muslim culture. Essaouira, where the ramparts will tell you the history of a magnificent fortified town. The Oudaias kasbah and of course the Hassan tower that will symbolize Rabat in your mind; the sculpted cedar ceiling of Bit el-Mal in Tangier that will be imprinted in your memory, as will the treasures of Meknes, the Dar el Baida palace, the splendid gates opening up to the imperial city. And Casablanca, that holds more recent treasures such as the Mahkama du Pacha or Hassan II mosque. A Morocco full of beauty and sensations, where the fine Arabo-Andalusian influence rubs shoulders with the sand architecture of the South: towns and places listed in the UNESCO world heritage. Because it is not o­nly the mosques and their beautifully detailed minarets, the medersas and palaces, but Moroccan towns in their entirety that contain great historical treasures.

Marrakech: at the heart of the souk

When you go into the souks of Marrakech, you enter a world of unrivalled colour, sounds and fragrances. Djemaa El-Fna Square is located north of this immense maze of backstreets, consisting of a labyrinth of streets and alleyways covered in plaited reeds, where traditional trades are organised into districts. It is a unique world, ideally explored in the morning, taking advantage of the start of the day.

After the souk el-Ghezel, the wool and spice markets, head towards the Rahba-Kedima Square . This former corn market groups together apothecaries’ stalls where surprising remedies are sold alongside traditional oriental beauty products: kohl and antimony, henna in all its forms… Close-by, the carpet souk, also called the “criée berbere” (Berber auction), is a world apart, glimmering with the colours of all the carpets hung o­n the walls. The copper souk and its old workshops is also a feast for the eyes with brassworkers hammering out the metal in the ancestral tradition. At the Sebbaghine or dyers’ souk, large skeins of multicoloured wool dry o­n perches hanging between two walls. The potters’ souk displays tajine dishes and varnished potteries. The jewellers’ market presents traditional ornamentation in solid silver. The Jeld souk is the best place to buy a leather bag or pair of babouches.

Marrakech. The tradition of well-being

With its thousand-year old history, Marrakech is brimming over with the architectural and religious treasures of the past. Sumptuous palaces and impressive monuments make Marrakech the tourist capital of southern Morocco . It is a unique place, not o­nly to discover the riches of local culture but also to indulge in the best of Moroccan traditions: the art of the massage and the hammam.

Take advantage of your stay in Marrakech to taste the benefits of the hammam, exfoliation with black soap or ghassoul wraps. Give into the expert hands of specialists in warm argan or sesame oil massages, especially if scented with essential oils of orange blossom or jasmine. Or experience a day of relaxation in a spa centre. In the evening, you will appreciate the subtle flavours of Moroccan cuisine to the full . .

There are many places dedicated to relaxation and well-being in Marrakech. Whether traditional or modern, they offer an ideal setting in which to stimulate your five senses, revitalise your body and relax your mind. And there is a vast choice of packages available so that you may find the ideal way of making your stay in Marrakech an unforgettable relaxing experience.