03Cities and regions

The Red City

Marrakesh

Marrakesh is Morocco's fourth-largest city, home to about 997,000 people, and lies west of the Atlas foothills. It was founded around 1070 as the Almoravid capital, and its red walls, built in 1122–1123, together with its red sandstone buildings, earned it the name Red City. The old medina has been a World Heritage Site since 1985, and today Marrakesh is the most visited city in the country. At its centre is Jemaa el-Fnaa: by day a place of orange juice stalls and water sellers with leather water bags, filling up late in the day with storytellers, musicians and pedlars. About 200 metres to the west the Koutoubia minaret rises 77 metres; its name comes from the booksellers who once worked at its foot. Further south are the Bahia Palace with its painted wooden ceilings and the Saadian Tombs with their carved plaster. The city also has Morocco's largest traditional market, with 18 souks for pottery, copper and leather. Give it at least two days: palaces in the morning, the square in the evening.

About 997,000

City population

Around 1070

Founded

0 m

Height of the Koutoubia minaret