Marrakech the Red City

Marrakech the Red City

Often heard the nickname "Red City" Marrakech is truly well deserved. The buildings of the city are almost all red. This is indeed the color of the earth in this place, which served and still serves in the construction of various buildings and buildings in this city, has now become a mecca of tourism in Morocco. One of the key symbols of the imperial city is reflected in its walls, surrounding the medina, the old city. And of course, the walls of the fortified city are red, made ​​of earth, lime and mounted on a wooden frame.

The doors of the ramparts

Impossible not to see: they surround the entire old town, with its 19 km long, and a wall that is usually 6 to 8 m in height. 22 doors pierce the walls, letting people and cars. The different tribes who came to Marrakech to trade or find protection often had a door reserved for them, and named after them. This is the case of Bab Doukkala Bab Aylen or the name of the respective tribes. This thick enclosure normally intended for the military protection of the city today protects nothing. There are more large gate controlling the passage, there is no guard in one of the 200 laps or person making the round the ramparts. Especially as the lifeblood of Marrakech, where industry, employment and banks are in the new town, outside. These walls have evolved Marrakech, accompanying its growth, and built gradually over the centuries.

History walls

The first walls were built in the twelfth century at the time of the ruler Ali Ben Youssef of the Almoravid dynasty, the ruling dynasty, to protect Almohad. This first fortification of Marrakech was much less extensive than today, Marrakech having been constantly grow and improve over time. This rampart, made with local reddish clay was much cheaper than if it was built of stone, much harder to obtain. This has not prevented some doors walls to be built of stone, giving a monumental construction.

Covering an area of ​​600 hectares, it is one of the largest medina in Morocco and most populous of North Africa. The recent craze for riads, the traditional Moroccan houses built around a central courtyard, generated profound sociological changes in the medina of Marrakech, where the price per square meter has skyrocketed. Thus, a significant and growing number of smaller households marrakchis sees driven by speculation "exile" outside the walls. Moreover, a phenomenon of densification is observed habitat within the medina. However, it is far from witnessing a museumification of the medina, far from it. In fact, the growing success of tourism Marrakech medina permanently invigorated by attracting many young people in the maze of the medina. Thus it would seem that more than 40,000 craftsmen work, divided into different themed areas geographically organizing the medina. Jemaa El Fna is a square in Marrakesh next to the Koutoubia mosque. This tourist attracts over a million visitors came to see the shows hosted by snake charmers, monkey trainers, storytellers, musicians and other popular artists (games, drawing henna etc ...) from early evening until the call to the dawn prayer. The Cultural Space of Jemaa El Fna has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.