Travel to Morocco

A Brief History of Marrakech
The imperial city of Marrakech was founded in 1062 by Sultan Youssef ben Tashufin who deserves the credit for the construction of defensive walls surrounding the city. Lengthened to 19 km during the Almohad dynasties and Saâdiens, beautiful walls, varying in color between pink and red, are punctuated by 200 square towers (borjs) and nine monumental gates. The prosperity of Marrakech at the time made ​​it the capital of an empire stretching from Algiers to the Atlantic and the Mediterranean almost to Senegal.

After 400 years of Berber dynasties from the original mountains of the Atlas tribes (Almoravids, Almohads and Marinids who were in power until 1465) the 16th century saw the rise to power of the Arabs. Rich Saâdiens (1554 - 1603) were responsible for the unification of Morocco. In 1659 the Alawites came to the throne (occupied from 1672 to 1727 by Moulay Ismail, the best known of all the sultans) and still run the country to date.

One of the most representative of this period in Marrakech Moroccan history sites in the Kasbah. In a small garden, the tombs of the 16th century Saadian Dynasty are among the finest examples of Islamic art, especially through the complicated decorations in stucco and cedar ceilings in the mausoleum.

In 1912 the Treaty of Fez recognized Morocco as a French protectorate under the sovereignty of the Sultan. During the 40 years since the country is an important economic progress through the development by the French rail and road infrastructure, the introduction of hydro-power plants, irrigation systems and the introduction of national education. The commercial and residential district of Gueliz, excluding Medina, was completed shortly before Morocco will again become independent in 1956.