NordenBladet – The Northeners love to select as their travel destination the places where you can find palm trees, swimming pools, market places crammed with goods, restaurants catering delicious local dishes, and warm weather.
Therefore Morocco is exactly the place where people wish to go on holiday and on mission. The sun is guaranteed and the temperatures are delightful. It is wortwhile visiting Marrakech Morocco around the year, although spring and autumn are the town’s best seasons. Midsummer might turn out a little too hot (around 38 degrees Celsius), and often during Ramadan in August the stores and restaurants will be closed.
Marrakech charms with its exotic and versatile atmosphere, defined by the peaceful coexistence of various cultures and eras. In Marrakech the cultures of the Orient and the Occident, the Middle Ages and the Digital Era meet. NordenBladet points out 5 sightseeings that are worth visiting while in Marrakech.
1. Jemaa El Fna (Jemaa el-Fnaa, Djema el-Fna, Djemaa el-Fnaa), also known as Storytellers Square
This is probably the best known locations in Marrakech old town (medina). It is an extensive market ground and the center of the town’s various enterprises. On the crowded square of Jemaa El Fna one can meet both professional and amateur musicians, acrobats, blackmagicians, storytellers, fortune-tellers, animal tamers and others kinds of entertainers. The place is also known as the Square of the Dead or the Square of the Hanged, since as late as 1912 the criminals were still publicly punished there. Marrakech old town is listed as UNESCO world heritage. Due to the town’s historic significance it is possible to observe plenty of fascinating historic architecture there. The town wall that was mainly built in the 12th century, is 19 km long. The wall is up to 5.8 m high and incorporates 20 gates and around 200 spires.
2. Marrakech Berber market (souk)
A separate sightseeing and why not also a place for beneficial purchase is Marrakech Berber market (souk) – the largest amongst its kind in Morocco. From this large market consisting of various smaller markets one can find vary varies products from Berber handicraft to modern electronics.
3. Bahia palace ( address: Medina Avenue Imam el Ghazali, Marrakech 40000, Morocco)
Bahia grand palace was built as home to the vizier Ba Ahmed Ben Moussa and his four wives in the beginning of the 20th century. It is a signpost to the greatness and wealth of Marrakech rulers. A visit to Bahia palace takes the guest back to the times of the vizier and his harem. The abundance of inner courtyards, gardens, the spaciousness and the numerous fountains make it possible for a large number of guest to visit the place simultaneously and the entire atmosphere is really worthwhile paying a visit.
4. Jardin Majorelle (address: Rue Yves Saint Laurent، Marrakesh 40090, Morocco)
The Botanical Gardens of Majorelle have a versatile collection of plants from five different continents and ot is open for tourists from 1947. The gardens are famous for the cacti collection, fountains and the more than ten endemic species of birds. The Majorelle Gardens, designed by the French artist Jacques Majorelle, are open to all interested visitors – the beautiful private property was the fruit of 40 years of the frenchman’s work. 18 years after his death the possessions were bought by Yves Saint Laurent ja Pierre Berge who restored the place. The ashes of the artist who passed away on 1 June 2008 have been cast there.
5. Koutoubia mosque (address: Medina Jamaa El Fenna, Marrakech 40000, Morocco)
Situated 200 meters from Jemaa El Fnaa, the Koutobia mosque is among the town’s most historic buildings (built back in the second half of the 12th century) and the 77m high minaret next to it is towering the town. The mosque is also known by the names Kutubiyya Mosque, Jami’ al-Kutubiyah, Kotoubia Mosque, Kutubiya Mosque and Kutubiyyin Mosque.
Travel photos by: Helena-Reet Ennet
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