Morocco, Marrakech

Marrakech is a city with a population of 1,036,500 (as of 2006) in southwestern Morocco, near the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.

Name

The possible origin of its name could be from the Tamazight (Berber) words mur (n) akuch, which means Land of God. (The root "mur" is nowadays in the Berber languages used only in the feminine form "tamurt").

The name Morocco itself derives from Murrakush. This city is the capital of the Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz region.

History

Marrakesh is the second largest city in Morocco after Casablanca, and was known to early travellers as "Morocco City." Prior to the advent of the Almoravids in the 11th century, the area was ruled from the city of Aghmat. The Almoravid leader, Abu-Bakr Ibn-Umar decided Aghmat was becoming overcrowded and decided to build a new capital.

The city experienced its greatest period under the leadership of Yacoub el Mansour, the third Almohad sultan. A number of poets and scholars entered the city during his reign, and he began the construction of the Koutoubia Mosque and a new kasbah.

For centuries Marrakesh has been known for its 'seven saints'. When sufism was at the height of its popularity, during the reign Moulay Ismail, the festival of the 'seven saints' was founded by Abu Ali al-Hassan al-Yusi at the request of the sultan.

Demographics

Marrakech has a population of 1,036,500 in 2006.

The official number of residents is one million. Also, there is a very large international community consisting mainly of Europeans: especially French, estimated at 10,700 people, mostly retired. Also Germans, Italians, English and Swiss.

Transport

Menara International Airport serves as the main airport for the city and receives flights from Europe and neighboring Arab countries.

A toll-paying motorway connects Marrakech with Casablanca.

CTM coaches (intercity buses) and various private lines run services to most notable Moroccan towns as well as a number of European cities, from the Gare Routière on Rue Bab Doukkala in downtown Marrakech.