The Medina – a Testament to Marrakech’s Cultural Heritage

Marrakech’s ancient Medina is an amazing adventure offering a glimpse into Arab and Muslim culture.  A myriad of a lively, bustling jumble is juxtaposed by a haven of tranquility – on the one hand, the exhilarating and lively Jemaa el Fna square and on the other, to the south – a different  face to the Medina.  Here, you’ll savor the peace and serenity of another Medina, where the splendid monuments of Morocco’s ruling dynasties lay – mosques, tombs, traditional architecture and buildings of historic interest.

Djemaa el Fna

Koutoubia Mosque

Koutoubiya Mosque Minaret

The Almoravids built these impressive monuments here to represent their power and influence over the Muslim world.   One of the best examples of Muslim architecture is the Kooutoubiya Mosque, with its 77 m. tall minaret used by the muezzin to call to prayer.  The magnificent Ben Youssef Madrasa is the largest of its kind in Morocco.

Ben Youssef Madrasa

 

The Saadian Tombs, the mausoleum of 66 kings from the Saadian dynasty, built in the 16^th century by the Moroccan ruler Ahmed el Mansour, exhibit sumptuously decorated pavilions.  These include the magnificent room of the 12 columns which house the tombs of Ahmed el Mansour and his descendants.  The El Badi Palace, the splendid residence of Ahmed el Mansour, was stripped of its wealth by the spiteful Moulay Ismail in the 17^th century.  Yet it is a testament to Marrakech’s cultural heritage – its sheer size, position and the aura of surrounding tranquility create a mesmerizing effect.

Sadian Tombs

Bahia Palace

The Bahia Palace, built in the late 19^th century by a slave who became wealthy, offers a wonderful example of 19^th century Alhambrian architecture, as is the Dar el Said Palace, which houses a museum.  Located near the ben Youssef Mosque, the Chrob ou Chouf Fountain, one of Marrakech’s lesser known landmarks, is a not-to-be-missed work of art.  Commissioned by Morocco’s Ahmed el Mansour ruler in the late 16^th century, it was strategically built near the Sahara Valley as a source of fresh water for weary travelers and locals.  The fountain’s breathtaking dimensions make it the most vital in the Medina, recognized as a UNESCO historic landmark.

Ceiling in Bahia Palace

Many of Marrakech’s historic highlights are hidden deep in the Medina, among twisting alleys and the maze of narrow streets.  Discovering these, the Medina with its historic landmarks, structures and buildings reveals the city’s fascinating history and offers a breathtakig glimpse into this city’s mesmerizing cultural heritage.

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The Wonders of a Moroccan Kasbah

Discover the Wonders of a Moroccan Kasbah

Strategically located at the junction of 3 rivers, Ouarzazate was once the base of power over vital southern trade routes and remains to this day the main gateway to these routes.  At the heart of the region rest the bizarre remains of ancient and restored Kasbahs, highlighting a family adventure well worth the effort. 

A Kasbah in the Dades Valley

 Kasbahs, fortified mountain villages usually perched on a mountain hillside for defense purposes, were built out of mud and straw.  Constructed to protect from arrow and other attacks, they were built with high walls and no windows or very narrow ones.  Erected in a sprawling manner, Kasbahs included attached earthen dwellings as well as other buildings necessary for everyday life – bath houses, garrisons, stables, granaries and more.

A Kasbah was also a place of residence of a wealthy and powerful local leader.  As such, it was the place of defense and the refuge for inhabitants when a city was under siege.  Built to a height of three stories with towers on every corner, Kasbahs were constructed higgledy-piggledy, twisting and turning without an organized plan.  This is precisely what makes them such a great family adventure travel destination, especially for children.  Exploring a kasbah, one never knows what to expect around the next corner.

Kasbah Touririt

Located in the heart of Ouarzazate, Kasbah Taourirt, the one-time home of Pasha Glaouil, one of the world’s richest men, is one of the first of the Kasbahs to explore.  Its architecture is typical of this kind of edifice; its exterior and interior are magnificent, offering a clear picture of how these fortifications were built.  The Kasbah was made to house over 1000 people – slaves and family members in over 300 rooms including stables, garrisons, ceremonial rooms and domestic living quarters.  Traditional dyes – saffron for yellow, henna for red, mint for green, indigo for blue – were used to color the tiles decorating the walls and ceilings and other architectural features abound.  The fun in exploring here comes when wandering through the myriad of rooms and passageways – a maze of twisting and turning, up and down chambers, which are fascinating from the architectural and decorative point.

Ait Benhaddou

Towers at Ait Benhaddou

The breathtaking vistas in the region have also become a choice film location, the most well-known of these being Ait Benhaddou, a Kasbah north of Ouarzazate.  This UNESCO World Heritage Kasbah is so stunning that many popular films have been made here –among them “Lawrence of Arabia,” and “the Gladiator”.  Ait Benhaddou is well worth a visit.  A Kasbah made up of various fortresses towering 10m into the air, it is one of those places you dream of visiting – exotic and different, and you can easily fantasize life here centuries ago.  And the view is spectacular, especially at sunrise and dawn, when the Saharan sun reflects the red walls.  Wandering through the Kasbah, you’ll need to climb and jump and look out for mud pieces falling on you as you go.  For youngsters, this is a dream come true!

Ait Benhaddou from Above

These are only 2 of the countless Kasbahs in the region.  Traveling north from Ouarzazate, the Dades Valley, known as “The Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs,” features many beautiful painted, crenulated Kasbahs which are the stuff of fantasies made for great exploration for family adventure travel.

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Unwind in morocco: An Intimate Look at a Moroccan Bath House

Unwind : An Intimate Look at a Moroccan Bath House

A Moroccan bath house, a Hammam, is an important part of the local culture.  Originally descended from the Roman bath and fashioned after Turkish baths, Moroccan Hammams were created because most homes lacked indoor plumbing.  Moroccan Hammams were also rooted in Islamic rituals.  Today, however, Hammams have become a place where locals go at least once a week to soak, exfoliate and catch up on the latest gossip with friends.

Walking into the Hammam, I hardly knew what to expect.  Opening the giant wooden door, the sights and fragrances that greeted me were incredible.   Fragrant candles, rose petals scattered throughout, warm burnished wood, fountains, stunning stained glass lanterns, sheer gold curtains – these were only part of the elaborate decorations that held me captive from the start.

 

With a robe in hand, I was directed to a changing room and then led to the sauna, passing more fresh flower bouquets and bubbling fountains on the way.  Opening the door to the sauna, I was enveloped by the fragrant steam, as the scent of orange blossoms and rose water filled the air.  After a long day of trekking in the hot Moroccan sun, my skin soaked up the lovely moisture, my muscles took a break from strenuous touring as a total sense of relaxation came over me.

 

My masseuse entered the sauna, handing me a scoop of henna-clay mixture, and signaled to me to cover myself in the goop and scrub.  Covered in the mud, I felt the billowing steam work its magic and awaited her return.  Eventually, she came in with an exfoliating glove, all ready to scrub me off, shedding dead skin and impurities.  More rinsing and lathering followed until my skin was rosy-red and baby-smooth.

Soothing music and the smell of almonds filled the air.  Then, for complete relaxation, a full body massage!  Regretfully thinking that I was finished, I rose to depart, only to be greeted by the dramatic finale as a bucket of cold water was poured over my head! 

“Ah” I thought, “More energy to continue my adventures in this great land.” 

No doubt, a Moroccan Hammam is the perfect place to unwind, relax, re-energize and come out squeaky clean!

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