Around Morocco | Dar Les Cigognes

Morocco, the land of the setting sun, is the Westernmost nation of Africa and of the Islamic World. Morocco is the Northwest corner of the African continent. Bounded to the East by three mountain ranges and the edges of the Sahara dessert, to the West by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by the Mediterranean, and to the South by the desert, Morocco is blessed by fertile plains and oasis valleys. Marrakech is two hours inland from the coast, and 45 minutes North of the High Atlas Mountains, the tallest in North Africa.

With an incredibly rich continuous history, Morocco has seen the arrival of the Phoenicians and the Jews, the Romans and Visigoths, the Arabs, and finally those who came (Jews and Arabs) following the "Reconquista" of Spain. Even the Berbers, 70% of the population today, are thought to have originally come from Europe. This history is evident in the skin colour of the Moroccans, which ranges from darkest black to palest white.

Today, Morocco is a modern, open, and tolerant society. The government is a constitutional Monarchy. The Royal Family are the Alaouites, and are distinguished for being the oldest monarchical family in the world still on the throne. While many dynasties preceded them, the Alaouites have ruled Morocco for nearly 500 years.

Islam is the principal religion, with 98% of the population. There are, however, important communities of Christians and Jews, particularly in Casablanca, but also scattered across Morocco. The King is the leader of the faithful in Morocco and plays an important role in the spiritual and political life of the nation.

Morocco welcomes visitors with open arms, and you needn't look far to find the warmth and welcome of the people. Whimsical and creative, Moroccans are always ready to share their ancient culture with you, and always with a smile.

There are a great many "worth the trip" sites and places to go all over Morocco, and we would be delighted to help you plan your visit, organize a car and driver or other transport, guides, other hotels, and to give you tips and suggestions along the way. Some ideas might include:

Marrakech

Badia Palace/ancient Saâdi palace now in ruins
Bahia palace (19th century, 8 ha)
Agdal Gardens (20 hectares with basins, pools, and ancient olive groves)
Necropolis of the Saâdian kings
Majorelle gardens
Near-eastern souks
Jemaa El Fna square, a lively place night and day
Koranic school - Medersa Ben Youssef
Ménara
The Marrakech Museum /li>

Essaouira

Traditional fishing port
Jewish quarter

Agadir

Kasbah
Port (largest sardine-fishing port on Earth)
Beach of fine sand

Ouarzazate

The two famous kasbahs (18th and 19th century fortified Berber castles)
The Feint oasis (meeting with the village chiefs customary)
The biblical city of Aït Benhaddou
The oasis of Skoura and its dates palms

Zagora

Palm grove (800,000 date palms). · Ksar Diasrir Nimelchane (fortified adobe village)
Famous Sharienne Library of Transportation - 400 manuscripts (astronomy, physics, medicine)
Tinghir sand dunes (unusual sight)
Fortified villages, blue spring (Ain Meskine)
Merzouga sand dunes - 35 km of pink sand (Hammada sand and rock desert)

Fes

Medina dating back to the end of the 8th and beginning of the 9th century
The largest souk in the kingdom--35,000 craftsmen
The Medersas, the Koranic Schools
The ancient institutes of technology that date back to the 14th century (Merinid Period)
The Batha crafts museum

Meknes

Stables (for 12,000 horses, built in the 17th century)
Bab El Mansour gate
Museum of traditional art (40 km of ramparts)
Agdal pools (imitation of the pools at Versailles castle)
My Ismail Mausoleum: the only mosque that non-Muslims can visit.
Volubilis (ancient capital of Roman Tanjitane Mauritania, discovered from its ruins)

Casablanca

The Hassan tower (unfinished 11th century mosque; Almohad Dynasty)
Chella: 14th century Merinide necropolis
Oudaya kasbah-an ancient fortress overlooking the sea

Tangiers

Malcolm Forbes Museum (miniature soldiers representing all the world's battles, battle of the three kings)
Kasbah Museum 17th century My Ismail fortress (Museum of antiquities and crafts-rugs, costumes, ironwork)
The large and small socco (ancient peasant marketplaces)

Tetouan

Bab Oukla museum (entrance to the medina)
Ancient manor transformed into a museum of traditional art (famous for its Muslim and Jewish wedding dresses)
The city and its craftsmen: 'sevetiers'