Marrakech or Marakesh (مراكش Murrakush), known as the “Red City or Al Hamra,” is a city in southwestern Morocco in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.
The possible origin of its name could be from the Tamazight (Berber) words mur (n) akuch, which means Land of God. (The root “mur” is nowadays in the Berber languages used only in the feminine form “tamurt”). The same word “mur/mawr” appears in the country Mauritania, but this interpretation is still unproved to this day, and there are other possibilities that are often invoked.
Marrakech has the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco and also has the busiest square in the entire continent of Africa, called Djemaa el Fna.[1]
Like many North African and Middle Eastern cities, Marrakech has two main divisions: the old city (médina) and the modern city.
Marrakech is served by Ménara International Airport- RAK is the code for the city.
The city is called “Marrakech” in French, “Marrakesh” in English, and “Marrakesch” in German.
The official number of residents is one million; however, the population is estimated to be around two million. The largest part of the population of Marrakech is of Berber origin. Also, there is a very large international community consisting mainly of Europeans: especially French, estimated at 3,700 people, mostly retired. Also Germans, Italians, English and Swiss.
Yusuf ibn Tashfin, member of the Almoravides dynasty, founded the city in 1062.
Prior to the reign of Moulay Ismail, Marrakech was the capital of Morocco. After his reign, his grandson moved the capital back to Marrakech from Meknès.
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