“Friend, of all the most beautiful lands in the world, there is one where the light is so bountiful, the shadows so cool, or so warm, the perfumes so sensual and so strong that in your heart, you have the lust for life experienced by noble spirits, you must go there at once before progress can disfigure its precious beauty, its rich landscapes and serene dignity”

Henry Hugot from “Ancient Morocco”

 Of this end of the world, where the land seems scarcely to have penetrated the earth’s crust, the Arabs of the 7th century made “al bilad al Maghreb”, the land of the far west, where the earth sinks into the infinity of the ocean waters.

Although Morocco is no longer this extreme point of the known world, it remains the land of light and the land of eternal contrast between bright and dark colors, a favored place. This country boast vast horizon, and gold beaches, arid snowy mountains, dazzling flowers and palm trees, and thousand years old cities and secret villages…. And bringing these places to life costumes traditions forgotten by modern world.

(…)Each person reverently savoured the concoction, which is highly perfumed yet easy to digest. Offering tea is an act of welcome and friendship, Brillat-Savarin, subtle gourmet that he was understood to what degree Moroccan traditions were founded on kindness and hospitality.           

 Xavier Richer from “The Majesty of Morocco”

Editions Atlas, 1991

 GENERAL INFORMATION

  Morocco is a constitutional monarchy. The young and new King Mohamed VI has succeeded to his Father Hassan II who died on 23/07/1999. As a descendant of the Prophet, the king is also the Commander of the Believers, in other word, the Moroccan‘s religious leader.  The government is elected by vote. The political tendency is for the first time in the history, socialist.

 New Year 01/01, Independence Manifesto 11/01, Labour day 01/05, National Day 23/05, Feast of Throne 30/07, Allegiance of Wadi Eddahb 14/08, Anniversary of the King’s and people revolution 20/8, Young’s people day 25/08, Green March 6/11, Independence day 18/11.

On top of these d Allegiance of Wadi Eddahb 14/08, dates, all religious holidays have to be add. Based on the lunar calendar, all the religious holidays are not definite from a year to another.

The official language is Arabic. But most speak Moroccan dialect, and Berber.  French is widely spoken on all the territory, and taught in schools as a second language.  In the north (Tangier Coast) Spanish is spoken, more predominant than French.

The Dirham’s cannot be exchanged for foreign currency and cannot be taken out of the country. All local currency must be spent in Morocco or changed at the airport before you leave.

The £ are worth 15 Dirham’s.

Currency consists of 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 Dirham’s notes and 10, 5, 2, 1, 0.50, 0.20, 0.10, 0.05 Dirham’s coins.

Banks are open from 8.15 AM to 4 PM to nonstop. No commissions are taken when change. Guests need to show their passport to the cashier. Banks takes no commission when changing.

Major credit cards are accepted in most restaurants and antique shops.

To call  Uk from Morocco dial 00-44- followed by the second figure of the area code and then the number.

Postage on a letter from Morocco to the UK is 10 DH.

Museums are open from 9.00 AM to 12.00 Noon, and from 3.00 PM to 5.30 PM.except on thursday  Shops are usually open from 9.30 AM to 1.00 PM and from 3.00 PM to 7.30 PM. 

The time in Morocco is Greenwich Mean Time. 

Eglise des Saints Martyrs. Marrakech 

Rue El Imam Ali.     Saturday 18H30

Tel : 024 43.05.85.                      Sunday         10H30

220 volts, power points are French type, use for European plugs.

No need to be vaccinated to enter Morocco.

 Morocco as managed to preserve the skills of its traditional craftsmen, which have been handed down from generation to generation. An enormous range of traditionally made items, from the rustic to the more elaborate, can be bought all over Morocco. The most conspicuous tend to be carpets, basketwork, jewellery, leatherwork and woodwork.

The size and design of Moroccan carpets are usually related to their intended use and position in the home. Their value is determined by the number of knots or strands of warp and weft forming the foundation fabric. There is also a difference between town and tribal carpets. The best known in the « town » category are the predominately red Rabat carpets with their Oriental style design. Tribal or Berber carpets are made of thick knotted wool and feature geometric, often latticework designs in a harmonious combination of colours.

The art of embroidery is particularly well developed in the towns and cities of northern Morocco, notably Fez, Meknes, Rabat, Salé, Chefchaouen, Tetouan and Azemmour. Because they have been subject to different influences, each town has developed a particular style and technique characterised by choice of colours, decorative motifs, and types of stitches. Fez is famous for its silk embroidery on linen and cotton, Meekness is renowned for its warm colors embroidered on muslin, while Rabat uses a wide range of decorative motifs that are the legacy of Muslim Spain. Azemmour is recognized by brightly colored threads worked on strips of white or unbleached linen used as hangings and curtain trimmings.

This popular tradition craft produces a wide range of articles for everyday use. Dwarf palms, rushes and needs are the most widely used materials. Tasselled hats from Khémisset, garden furniture and lampshades are particularly eye-catching, and large lightweight baskets are ideal for carrying your purchases on the return flight.

Most of the splendid marquetry seen throughout Morocco comes from Essaouira. Tables, armchairs, chess boards, caskets and jewel boxes are made of thuya and inlaid with ivory, mother-of-pearl, citrus wood, orange wood and ebony.

Moroccan metalwork includes iron, bronze and especially copper and brass. Marrakech and Fez are the two main centres where it is made and sold. A wide range of decorative and functional objects, such as copper trays and ewers inlaid with silver, teapots, cooking pots, pots and pans, vases and caskets, are offered for sale in Souks.

Leatherwork is very much in evidence throughout Morocco. Whereas it was previously limited to saddles, bookbinding’s and babouches, it now includes poufs, cushions, bags, suitcases, belts and clothes. Fez and Marrakech vie with each other for the monopoly on decorative leatherwork.

City jewellery is usually made of elaborately worked gold and is sometimes set with precious stones. It is made by craftsmen grouped in specialist quarters within major towns and cities such as Fez, Meknes, Tangier, Tetouan, Rabat, Salé, Essaouira and Marrakech. Rural or Berber jewellery is traditionally made in silver and varies from the simple to the elaborate. Ouarzazate is renowned for its burnished silver jewellery.

 The two main centres of pottery manufacture are Fez, renowned for what used to be known as « Fez blue » pottery, and Safi, which imitates Fez pottery in different colours, largely green, yellow and brown. Meknes, Rabat, Azemmour, Marrakesh and Taroudant also produce their own particular version of unglazed, glazed and painted pottery. In fact, every region from the Sous to the Rif via the valleys of the High Atlas, has its own type of pottery, usually handmade from red clay. Its simplicity is governed by practical necessity and it consists mainly of vessels designed to hold or preserve food. The interior is sometimes glazed and decorated with geometric and symbolic