Marrakech is not only a fantastic city, it is also a symbol of the Morocco that once was, and which still survives here. The streets of the old and pink city have been too narrow to allow the introduction of cars, and tourists searching for the "real" Morocco have turned the medieval structures of Marrakech into good business.
The hordes of tourists that come here all through the year have still not managed to change its character. Actually they contribute in a positive way to preserve one of the greatest monuments of Morocco. And Moroccans all over the country would not let down an opportunity of visiting the city they call "City of Happiness" (or "Bahja" in Arabic).
Marrakech is a Berber city, with little influence by Arabs. Marrakech had been the capital of Morocco, as well as for smaller countries (Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania and Libya), for many decades.
There are many monuments in Marrakech, most famous is the Koutoubia mosque. It is the medina, the souks and Jam el-Fnaa square, that attract most tourists.
It is from Marrakech that Morocco has received its modern name. Europeans got the name of the city wrong, first reducing the "ch"-sound to s, and later even removing the ending until the French were left with "Maroc" and the English "Morocco". For many years people from the Middle East cannot recognize Morocco because “Maghreb” means “The West”, so you have to say Marrakech for them to understand that you are from the far western country that has (or had) Marrakech as its capital city and not from Tunisia, Algeria.....
HISTORY
1062: Marrakech became the capital for the Almoravids. It was founded by Yussuf Ibn Tashafin. It got the name of "Marra Kouch", which means "Land of the Kouch-men". Kouch was the name given to warriors with black complexion from modern Mauritania.
1147: Marrakech was captured by the Almohads and all religious and civil buildings were destroyed. Construction of the Koutoubia mosque and the Menara Gardens started.
1269: The Merenids took control over Marrakech, but they chose Fez as their capital.
1274: Caravan routes were moved, depriving Marrakech of central sources of income. This was a period of serious decline of the city's economy.
1522: Saadians took control over Marrakech. The place was a poor place largely in ruins, but with the Saadian arrival it was turned into the new capital of southern Morocco.
End of the 16th century: Marrakech was restored to former glory, and became the culturally and economically leading city of Morocco. By the turn of the century, Marrakech had about 60,000 inhabitants.
1669: Marrakech was captured by the sultan of the Alaouites, and once again, the capital activities were moved to Fez.
Mid 18th century: Large parts of Marrakech were restored by Muhammad 3.
1912: Marrakech was for a short period of time captured by the Saharan chieftain, El Hiba. With the arrival of the French protectorate, the Glaoui family was running the city under French protection.
1913: The French started building a French-styled city outside the old city walls. The name of this new quarter is Gueliz. The name came from bad pronunciation by Moroccans of the word “eglise” which means church. The quarter had the very first Christian Church in the city. Marrakchi people pronounced it as "glise" then it became Gueliz.
1956: With the coming of Moroccan independence, the capital of the new kingdom is situated to Rabat, and Marrakech became a provincial capital, only.