Into the myth
Marrakech is known as "the red city",with its buildings varying in colour from ochre to pale pink. According to local legend, the choice of colour has its origins in the Koutoubia mosque, built in the 12th century. The story goes that the facades of the city's houses were reddened by the blood spilled during the construction.
Marrakech was founded in 1062 by Yusuf ibn Tashfin, chief of the Muslim Berber tribe, the Almoravids. The city quickly became one of the cultural centres of the Muslim world. Among other things, a system of underground irrigation channels was built and, to this day, supplies some of the city's parks with water.
The "real" Morocco
People from all over the world come to Marrakech to experience the "real" Morocco - to gain an impression of what the country was, once upon a time. Myths come alive in the well-preserved architecture. To walk through Marrakech is to open a volume of "one Thousand and one nights" and step inside.Nearly all the more famous sights of Marrakech are to be found within the city walls, in the Medina, the oldest part of the city.
The grand spectacle
Right in the heart of Marrakech you'll find the city's best known landmark, Djemaa-el-Fna, Morocco's largest marketplace, quite possibly the most vibrant city square in the whole of Africa.You approach the market through small, winding lanes. With each step you take, the buzz of activity and the wild beating of African drums comes closer. Suddenly, djemaa-el-Fna opens up in front of you, a huge circus boiling with life. It's an intoxicating moment of pure excitement, one you'll never forget.
The market is a magnificent piece of human theatre, performed each day. A glorious gathering of storytellers, snake charmers, dancers, musicians and acrobats - not to mention the food stalls making up a vast open air restaurant, where exotic meals and snacks are served around the clock.
Most of the goods at the market are crafted on the spot by men and women who entertain you with a breathtaking display of astonishing dexterity at carving, sewing, weaving or painting.
Closeness to Europe
Despite its contact with the past, Marrakech, like so many other towns in north Africa and the Middle East, also has its more modern and developed areas.The nearness to Europe is palpable in the city's business activities, infrastructure and accommodation. This not only gives visitors a reassuring sense of familiarity but provides a golden opportunity to secure good business deals, particularly bearing in mind the low prices that apply in the various investment areas.