Marrakech, Morocco
Visit Marrakech, a beautiful city in southwest Morocco. This study tour takes you through the main attractions of the city, namely the Djemaa el Fna (Square of the Beheaded), the most important Koran school of the Maghreb, the Menara Gardens, the world-famous medieval market and executioner’s square, today a lively place for oriental storytellers, snail cooks and jugglers, the city wall, the Koutoubia Mosque, the Bachia Palace, the Menara Gardens, the Marrakech Museum, the “Camel Market” animal market, the Saadian tombs and much more. Get to know a new culture on a city trip and let yourself be impressed by it.
The Paris of Africa
The Moroccan city of Marrakech is located north of the High Atlas. In the north a palm grove lines the former Moroccan capital, in the south the impressive peaks of the High Atlas can be seen, which are usually covered by snow. Many Morocco study trips or round trips visit this beautiful royal city. Marrakech has always been a place of longing for many Europeans, including the beautiful and the rich. Traditional riads have been converted into chic guest houses, and the world’s high society resides in the luxury hostels.
The Medina of Marrakech has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. The medina offers you numerous sights of high art-historical rank and enchants with its unique flair, which you can only experience in the Orient.
Medina with numerous highlights
The wall that surrounds the district with its 129 mosques is 12 kilometers long. Place Djemaa el Fna is the pulsating center of the old town.
The souks and the most important religious buildings are located in the adjacent northern part of the medina. In the south of the square are the kasbah, the magnificent palaces and the Saadian tombs. The Koutoubia Mosque can be seen to the west.
The landmark of Marrakech is the Koutoubia Mosque. Its minaret is 65 meters high and can be seen from afar. The minaret, the construction of which was completed in 1199, has served as a model for all minarets in Morocco to this day because of its perfect beauty.
Place Djemaa el Fna a magical place
One of the biggest tourist attractions of Marrakech, if not all of Morocco, is Djemaa el Fna, the so-called Place of the Dead. Almost every Morocco tour leads here. The square magically attracts visitors because it is a fascinating open-air arena for the artists who gather here every day to entertain the international audience. Performers: jugglers and acrobats, snake charmers, musicians and dancers, jesters and storytellers as well as faith healers and fortune tellers. In the evening, the square also becomes the largest open-air restaurant in the city with countless food stalls.
The souks of Marrakech – a fascinating maze
The largest and most beautiful souks in all of Morocco extend to the north of the fantastic square. Through one of the two main entrances, visitors enter a confusing labyrinth of tiny paths that sometimes just end in nowhere. Every craft guild has its own souk here. There are, for example, the alleys of basket makers, potters, textile traders and merchants who trade in spices and dried fruits. The tanners, carpet dealers, iron smiths, leather goods manufacturers, wool dyers and coppersmiths also have their own souks here.
The most beautiful gate of the city wall is the Bab Agnaou.
If you are in Marrakech on a study trip, the Musée de Marrakech also countsto the travel program, which is housed in the magnificent rooms of the Palais Mnebbi. The museum houses an outstanding collection of archaeological, ethnographic and historical exhibits. These include, for example, traditional clothing, weapons, jewelry and ceramic work. A special treasure is a collection of Moroccan coins from the 8th century. The most important pilgrimage destination in Marrakech is the Zaouia de Sidi Bel Abbès, which consists of a mosque, a medersa, a fountain and a mausoleum.
The oldest and most beautiful gate of the city wall of Marrakech is the Bab Agnaou, which was the main entrance to the former Kasbah of the Almohads.
The Palace de la Bahia is a magnificent oriental building
It is also worth taking a tour of the Palais de la Bahia. The palace consists of a large number of buildings built in the Andalusian-Moorish architectural style. From one of the palace’s terraces one has a fantastic view of Marrakech and the peaks of the High Atlas. The large council chamber (160 m²) is a special feast for the eyes. The ceilings are fantastically painted and decorated with stucco ornaments. Wood-carved furniture, magnificent chandeliers and mirrors symbolize the wealth of former dignitaries in the Orient.
