Eat
Budget
The markets near the 'main' gate of Bab Boujeloud (near to Hotel Cascades) are full of yummy food. It is worth just wandering through them, buying random bits of food.
Le Kasbah (near Bab Boujloud). Friendly service, a solid selection of inexpensive Moroccan staples (excellent vegetarian tagine) and a couple of lovely high terraces overlooking the Gate on one side and the medina on the other, makes it a comfortable atmospheric place to chat to other travellers and its a welcome haven from the bussle of the crowded streets of the medina.
Café Medina (near Bab Boujloud). Tasty and cosy café-style restaurant, maybe too touristy. Food is fine, specially the "boricuas" (deep fried thin dough layers wrapping meat-chicken-rice fillings). Mains starting in 60dh.
Restaurant Bouinania (near Bab Boujloud). Enjoy lunch on the terrace or a leisurely dinner on the carpet-adorned second floor. The service is very friendly and more than willing to fire up the grill to make you the first brochettes of the day. Tagine, couscous, and other staples are well-done and offered for around 40 dh, but prices are negotiable down to 25 dh.
Le Kasbah (Bab Boujloud) has 2 nice terraces, a set menu or a la carte dishes. If you're tired of potatoes everywhere, try the grilled lamb chops and ask the waiter to change the french fries and rice for salad. Great for lunch!
Ville Nouvelle
Casa Nostra for tasteless pasta and ok pizza, you can try this italian "thematic restaurant", 1 block from Hasan II and Mohammed V
Mid-range
Palais des Merinides (Talaa Kbira). Table d'hote menus with basic Moroccan specialties in a very grand setting. Decent quality, but fabulous surroundings.
San Remo. Fed up with Couscous and Tajine, then you could try this Morocco owned Italian restaurant in the new part of town. Just opposite the police station, it offers a lovely Italian deli and numerous pasta and pizza dishes for a decent price.
Splurge
Dar Saada Restaurant. Located in the centre of the medina.

Sleep
Budget
HI youth hostel, 18 Rue Abdeslam Serghini. Clean, bright, friendly and well placed in the ville nouvelle. Unfortunately there is a debilitating 10 pm curfew and a five hour lockout. Dorms / twins with shared bath from Dh 45 / Dh 55, plus Dh 5 surcharge for non HI members.
Hotel Cascades (near Bab Boud Ganoush - main gate) in the Medina. The rooms are clean and simple. There is a shared bathroom on the first floor. A double costs 150 dh / night, this makes it cheaper than the youth hostel with a better location and no lockout. Sleeping on the terrace, recommended by some, is not advisable due to midday heat, lack of space during the day, and lack of security for luggage.
Pension Batha, (100-150 Dhs) 8 Sidi Lkhayat Batha, Fax: 05-574-1150, just across from Hotel Batha, around the corner from Bab Boud Ganoush. It has limited rooms, and fills up quickly, but they are clean and include private bathroom. It comes with breakfast on a nice (but small) terrace on the top floor.
Mid-range
Dar Bennis: traditional 18th century house (riad) in the Medina for vacation or holiday rental for up to five people, starting at 80 euros for entire house, www.houseinfez.com. This website also has lots of information about Fez museums, architecture, restaurants, real estate & monuments.
Splurge
There are a growing number of beautiful, comfortable guest-houses ("riads") in the medina of Fes el-Bali. They are expensive by Moroccan standards but offer luxury for about the price of a North American chain hotel. Some European proprietors prey on Westerners' culture-shock to direct business toward favored or overpriced services, so it is worth doing your research before going.


Stay safe
Fez is safe, but crowded. Take standard precautions regarding wallet, purse, etc. If you hear "Belek! Belek!" behind you, stand aside because a heavily-laden donkey is bearing down on you! Appear to know where you are going, even if you don't, or you will get offers from false guides. False guides are not dangerous but they can be exasperatingly tenacious.

Cope
For a North American traveller, Fez requires a real change of outlook or it will be a very high-stress trip! Shopkeepers and guides are very assertive and you will have to get used to saying "no" a lot. On the other hand, they can be genuinely warm and friendly even while trying to sell you something, an idea that is pretty alien to North Americans where it is assumed that a business relationship is the opposite of sincerity!

A lot of guide books talk about bargaining, and while a certain amount certainly still goes on, it seems to be in decline. More and more shops with a tourist clientele have posted prices and the proprietor is not willing to negotiate. As well, some prices on popular handicrafts are being regulated to protect both tourists and sellers. This seems to be a rapidly changing situation, as Morocco is making an active effort to professionalize its tourist industry.

Non-Muslims are not allowed to visit mosques, although they can visit the medersas (religious schools). In the busiest part of the medina, there is a lane that is blocked by a wooden beam at eye-level. It is a very busy intersection but the beam indicates the precinct of a revered shrine, and non-Muslims are not supposed to pass it. It is likely you will be tut-tutted if you do!

Bargaining "seems to be in decline"? No, Sir. This is a way of life that has survived for centuries, and shows no sign of changing. Moroccans even bargain among each other for everything except perhaps their utilities. Don't believe anyone (and you will hear it all the time) who tells you prices are being "regulated". Every other souk claims to be a "Government Regulated Co-op".

There is a single, genuine government-regulated fixed price shop in the Ville Nouvelle where all prices are posted, the goods are of decent (if not amazing) quality, and the single bored cashier will just stare incredulously at you if you attempt to bargain with him. Ask any hotel manager where the "fixed price shop" is, and they will point you in the right direction.

Day trips
A visit to the ancient Roman site of Volubilis is a must. This crumbling yet spectacular city has stunning mosaics on offer, and you can easily spend a couple of hours ambling through the ruins. There are organized coach tours running from Fes, however the more intrepid budget traveler can make this journey on their own by catching the train from Fes to Meknes and then a couple of 'collective' taxis to the picturesque historic town of Moulay Idriss then on from there to Volubilis. This is approx a 1/4 of the price of the organized tours and provides far more opportunity for adventure. Alternatively, Meknes itself is worth a visit, if only due to its calmer and less crowded medina, which has ample shopping opportunities.

Attractions in Fez Al Andalous Mosque An edifice of modest proportions built in the 9th century by Meriem, El Kairaouani’s daughter, it was embellished with a minaret almost identical to that of its rival, the Kairouan Mosque, in 956, financed by the Caliph of Cordoba, Abd Er-Rahman III. Legend has it that both mosques were in fact built by women, two sisters. Between 1203 and 1207 it was totally rebuilt by the Almohad Sultan En-Nasser, and soon afterwards a fountain and a library were added. It underwent further restoration in the 16th century under the auspices of Moulay Ismail. Bab Boujloud Here, where the minarets of the Bou Inania Medersa and the Sidi Lazaz Mosque stand out against the sky, is the main entrance to the Medina. Hispano-Moorish in style and built in the 13th century during the reign of the Almohads, it was renovated in 1913 and is the most recent of the city’s gateways. It leads to the square of the same name, which adjoins the former Kasbah of Boujloud built by the Almohad Sultan Mohammed En-Nasser and in use today as a residential district. Bab Ftouh Built by the second son of Emir Zenete Doumas on the site of an earlier gateway, Bab Ftouh was reconstructed in the reign of Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah in the middle of the 18th century. On the slopes of a hill outside the city walls stretches Bab Ftouh cemetery, where the most famous Kairaouan teachers are buried. Belghazi Museum The Belghazi Museum is the first private museum in the Kingdom to be recognised by the State. Covering an area of 5000 m², its exhibition galleries contain an impressive number of exhibits - around 4 000 antique items, illustrating the whole range of traditional Moroccan arts. The fruit of 12 years’ labour, the museum is a model of conservation work in the interest of Morocco’s national heritage. It is also a dynamic establishment, open to other fields of activity, to research and to artistic exchange. Dar El Makhzen Opening onto Place des Alaouites, the Sultan’s seat of government, with its eggshell façade and saracen tiles of pine green - a colour that the Prophet Mohamed declared as good to look upon as a woman’s face – keeps its doors firmly closed. This monumental esplanade contains palaces, arsenals, a menagerie, a mosque, a koubba, a medersa founded in 1320 by the Merinids and, of course, the vast and deservedly famous Lalla Mina gardens. Medersa Bouanania Also known as the Merinid Medersa, it was built between 1350 and 1357 under the auspices of Sultan Abou Inan and is the largest Medersa in Fez. Its sculpted plasterwork, cedar woodwork (now faded), bronze, marble and onyx ornamentation and windows often capped with mukarna are all typical of Merinid architecture. The walls of the interior patio are adorned with zellij topped by stuccowork and a canopy of green tiles. The prayer room is notable for its superb old stained glass windows and magnificent minbar. Now in use as a mosque, the medersa is one of the few religious buildings in Morocco open to non-Muslims. Mellah In Morocco, this term refers to any Jewish district, and comes from the word "Melh" (salt). The Mellah of Fez, thought to be the earliest in Morocco, is located in El Yahoudi district in the north of the city. The area used to bustle with life around small businesses, goldsmiths’ workshops (once a Jewish speciality), synagogues and Talmudic schools., Nowadays, however, the district is largely inhabited by Muslims, mostly coming from the countryside and newly settled in the city. Among the historic sites bearing witness to seven centuries of Jewish life are the Chief Rabbi’s house, the Danan Synagogue and the Jewish cemetery located at one end of the district. M’nabhi Palace The M’nabhi Palace is one of the most beautiful monuments in this historic and imperial city. At the end of the 19th century, the finest artists and craftsmen in Morocco spent 15 years on its construction, and the fruit of their skills was destined to play a major role in the Kingdom’s history. It housed the Minister of Defence during the reign of Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz, and was Marshal Lyautey’s residence. It was here too that the earliest French lessons were provided and the Protectorate Treaty between France and Morocco was signed in 1912. The palace now houses a top quality restaurant serving Moroccan cuisine as well as a manufactory producing carpets of traditional design. Place En-Najjarine The square takes its name from the cabinetmakers’ souk hidden away behind a wooden door in an alleyway below. Its fountain is of an unusual splendor and at its far end stands the Fondouk En-Nejjarine with its richly decorated façade, probably built in the 17th century and recently converted into a museum. Sebbaghine Sebbaghine, also called the street of dyers, is located on the river and is lined with workshops where rolls of wool and cotton are dyed in large copper receptacles. At the end of the street is Sid El Aouad Bridge, leading to the Andalusian district. Talaa Sghira Beyond Bab Bou Jeloud stretches the largest and most beautiful medina in the Maghreb, once split up into a score of small medinas provided with water by a complex system of pipes laid in 1068. A thousand or more dark alleyways, rather less alluring but more authentic than its two main streets, wind through Fés el Bali in endless succession. A stroll along Talaa Sghira, with its fountain and mosque of the same name, is one of the best ways to discover the old town. The Medina Beyond Bab Boujeloud stretches the largest and most beautiful medina in all the Maghreb. Once split up into a score of small medinas, Fes-el-Bali counts up to a thousand dark, narrow derbs (small streets), less alluring but more authentic than its two main streets. Jamaï Palace Built in 1879 and former Menzeh residence of the Jamaï Family, highly placed officials who enjoyed power during the reign of Moulay El Hassan, the edifice opens onto a magnificent Andalousian garden of lush greenery and a splendid patio adorned with fountains. The palace was converted into a luxury hotel in 1930 and is now a favourite haunt of jet setters and show biz celebrities. City of Tanners Bordering the Fez River, which provides the water necessary for treatment of skins, the Chouara tanneries are a rainbow of vivid colours. From the terraces of the surrounding houses, you get a bird’s eye view of the series of tanks of red and brown dyes and of multitudes of skins drying in the sun. Wool, animal hides and wax are exported in great quantity to Europe; but the finest skins stay in Fez where they are fashioned by skilled workers into belghas (a type of slipper), cushions, belts, and other luxury items sold throughout Morocco. Bab Chorfa The gate leads into Fes-Jdid (New Fez), the part of the city developed in the 14th century when the Merinids built a series of new palaces and administrative buildings outside the overcrowded medina of Fès El Bali (Old Fez). Today, Fes-El Jdid is the bustling home of Berber carpet makers, snake charmers and street musicians. Bab Semmarine This high arched gateway, rebuilt in 1924, is the main entrance to the famed Fes El-Jedid district. To the right, beneath the archway, where Merinid silos once stood, stretches a food market, bursting with life and colour. Chrabliine Mosque The Chrabliine Mosque was built by the Merinid Sultan Abou El Hassan and is a fine example of that dynasty’s art, elegant in its proportions and beautifully decorated with multi-coloured zellij. Kissaria Built on the site of a lunatic asylum opened in the 13th century by Sultan Abou Yacoub Youssef, the Kissaria is still functioning as a market and is famous for its brocades and silks, although its present concrete buildings lack the character of the original souk destroyed by fire in 1954. Its internal organization follows the Turkish system, with cooperatives of craftsmen sharing the overall profits made by their shops. Medersa Al-Attarine Built between 1323 and 1325 during the reign of the Merinid Sultan Abou Saïd, many consider this to be the most beautiful Medersa in Fez. From its bronze double-doors to its interior courtyard encircled by fine marble and alabaster columns, from its cedar wood awning to its white marble ablutions fountain with its zellij rose motif, the Medersa is a true masterpiece. The Merinid Tombs From this mound overlooking the city spreads a magnificent view of Fès El Bali and the Sebou Valley. The necropolis perpetuates the memory of the Merinid sovereigns, to whom the whole nation attributes the cultural and religious influence of Fez, their art finding expression in mosques, and especially in medersas which fostered the spread of religious learning. Most of these tombs date back to the 14th century . The Old Mechouer The monumental doorway of the Makina, surmounted by two decorative arrows dating back to the 1930s, opens onto the former royal parade ground. Once a munitions factory, built by an Italian mission in 1886 during the reign of Moulay El Hassan, it was later used as stables. Now open to visitors, it houses a manufactory producing traditional Moroccan carpets destined for export. Small Mechouer Crossing this small parade ground which partly overlooks the river Fez and is surrounded by high walls, you come to the once forbidden district of Moulay Abdallah where, behind the souks, the mosque bearing the name of the Alaouite Sultan was built. Its 25-metre-high minaret is ornamented with vertical green ceramic bands and topped with four globes and its Koubba contains the Sultan’s sepulchre. The more imposing Abou El Haq Mosque was built by the Sultan of the same name in 1276. Bab Esbaâ (gateway of the seven), which was named in honour of Moulay Abdellah’s seven brothers who succeeded to the throne in the 18th century, links the Small Mechouar to the Old Mechouar. The Dar Batha Museum This Hispano-Moorish palace, built towards the end of the 19th Century, houses fine collections of traditional Fassi art: carved wood, zellij, wrought iron and sculpted plasterwork, all from the hands of masters and true works of art. Of equal fascination are exhibits of embroidery, carpets, jewellery and antique coins. The North Borj More recent than the South Borj, this bastion with its unrestricted view over the old town now houses a museum of weaponry. Exhibits from all over the world are displayed chronologically, from the flint arrowhead to the gun, from prehistory to the present day - axes, halberds, pikes, spears, a fine collection of ornate sabres and swords, Iranian helmets, ornamented saddles, muskets, pistols, revolvers and guns of every shape and size. The South Borj The Saadians constructed the majestic Borj Sud and Borj Nord in the 16th century, as watchtowers for the city which, even after the centre of imperial administration had been transferred elsewhere, remained the hub of the empire. The fortification with its magnificent panoramic view of Fez El-Bali, was built by Christian slaves during the reign of the Saadian Sultan Ahmed El Mansour Eddahbi (1578-1609). Today, it is here that Fez’s famed Sons et Lumières show takes place. The Zaouïa of Moulay Driss The Kissaria opens directly onto the Horm, the sacred precinct of the Zaouia of Moulay Driss, originally built in the 9th century and later reconstructed in 1437. The faithful reach through a hole in a small copper plate to touch the sepulchre, which is covered with a kassoua (a cloth), donated by the silk makers guild, and renewed each year. Non-Muslims are not allowed in the shrine, whose perimeter is marked out by wooden beams set about 1.60m off the ground across the roads leading to it, to stop donkeys and mules getting through. The surroundings of Fez Azrou Boasting both picturesque architecture and mild climate, the small village of Azrou was built at a height of about 1250 metres by its first inhabitants, the Berbers. The town is known for its Kasbah, built by Moulay Ismaïl in 1684 and its famous place Mohammed V, housing a large handicrafts centre. A little further away in the surroundings stretches the cedar grove famous for being undoubtedly the most beautiful forest in the Kingdom and the best maintained. Ifrane, Jewel of the Middle Atlas 1650 metres above sea level, in the midst of a vast clearing in the heart of the mountains lies the resort of Ifrane (founded in 1929). With its splendid Royal Palace, its houses with their sloping roofs, its carefully maintained gardens and its snow-capped peaks, it is reminiscent of a Swiss mountain village and is on its way to becoming the preferred winter sports resort of the Moroccan elite. The town also boasts Morocco’s only Anglophone University, Al Akhawayne and is an excellent base for hikers and trout fishermen summer and winter alike. Meknes, Imperial City Meknes reached the height of its glory in the 17th century thanks to the legendary Sultan Moulay Ismaïl, who decided to make the town into the most splendid of the Imperial Cities. Entering the city by way of Bab Mansour, considered the most beautiful gateway in Morocco, you come upon a world entirely dedicated to the memory of the Sultan, a contemporary of Louis XIV’s and like him obsessed with grandeur and glory. Moulay Yacoub The famous spa of Moulay-Yacoub is 20 km from Fez, in a striking setting in the middle of luxuriant vegetation. This spa stands out from all the rest because of the temperature of its sulphur springs, which come out at more than 50°. It is mainly used by local residents who come to take the cure based on ancient practices. However, the site has just been fitted out with ultra-modern facilities where you can take advantage of daily consultations. Moulay Driss Zarhoun The small holy town of Moulay Driss was built atop a rocky spur facing the plain of Volubilis. The town houses the mausoleum of the founder of the first Arabic dynasty to rule Morocco. Close descendant of the prophet, he is the most venerated saint in the Kingdom. Every year, at the end of the summer, a large moussem is held and thousands of the faithful gather to pitch their tents on the side of the Zerhoun hill where prayer, dance and procession are on the agenda. The Roman Ruins of Volubilis To the north of Meknes stand the Roman ruins of Volubilis, its columns and temples overlooking the cereal fields of the valley below. This former capital of the Roman province of Tingitane Mauritania had its hour of glory in the first three centuries of the Christian era. Strangely enough, the remains of manufactories are also to be found in the heart of the city, especially those of olive oil mills, the source of the city’s wealth. This is undoubtedly the most fascinating excursion to be made from Meknes or Fez. Content provided by Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Copyright Royal Air Maroc

Attractions in Marrakech Bab Aguenaou Bab Aguenaou is one of the most imposing and beautiful of the city’s gates. Located inside the Medina, near Bab Errob, it gives access to the Saadian Tombs. Local legend has it that in olden times the heads of executed criminals were displayed here. It once served as main entrance to the city, through which the sultans gained access to the nearby palace. Ben Youssef Mosque The entire Marrakesh Medina is centred around this majestic mosque built in the 12th century in honour of Sidi Youssef Ben Ali, one of the seven patron saints of the city. Restoration work carried out in the 16th and 19th centuries has left virtually nothing of the original structure. Its stone minaret towers 40 metres above the varnished tiles of the city’s rooftops. The Dar Si-Said Museum This sumptuous palace, in one of the Kingdom’s most beautiful cities, houses a quintessential collection of Moroccan arts and crafts. On the ground floor are displays of clothing, beaten copperware, and Berber weaponry and jewellery, while the first floor, decorated in Hispano-Moorish style houses a fine collection of woodwork. The Marrakech Royal Theatre The Marrakech Theatre Royal on Avenue de France is a marvel of architecture, with a 1200-seat open-air theatre and an 800-seat opera house. Inaugurated on 19 September 2001, the Theatre Royal is a creation sure to enhance the red city’s reputation as mediator and focal point for intellectuals the world over. It also constitutes a cultural and artistic centre in the heart of the Pearl of Southern Morocco, with shows, receptions, concerts and exhibitions being held there throughout the year. The Bahia Palace This sumptuous residence was built at the end of the 19th century by order of Ba Ahmed. Set in an immense eight-hectare garden, the property contains a haphazard succession of luxurious secret apartments opening onto patios. A thousand craftsmen, in the most part from the Fez region, took part in its construction which took over seven years. The building of the palace reintroduced the techniques and decorative materials of traditional architecture and, as in former times, carved wood and sculpted plasterwork and stucco adorn its interiors and exteriors. The Koutoubia Mosque The Koutoubia is one of the largest mosques in the Western Islamic world, perhaps even the most beautiful in the harmonious unity of its design. It is a shining and permanent example of the Hispanic-Moorish art of the Almohad era, allying apparent simplicity with marvellous dexterity and discreet luxury. The "booksellers’ mosque" owes its name to the manuscript souk whose shops were attached to its walls during the Middle Ages, a practice common in Arab Muslim towns. Its renowned minaret, a jewel of Hispanic-Moorish architecture, has cast its protective shadow over the city for more than eight centuries. The Mamounia Built in 1923, the Mamounia Hotel, one of the most luxurious palaces in the world was completely revamped in 1986, under the auspices of the late King Hassan II. Laid out in the 16th century by Saadian Sultan Sidi Mohammed, its grounds with their immense olive grove, numerous orange trees and many other species of plants, stretch over a surface area of 13 hectares. The edifice derives its name from the Saadian Sultan who gifted the palace to his son, Mamoun. Numerous celebrities, including Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Winston Churchill and Orson Wells, have stayed in this legendary hotel, with its setting out of the Thousand and One Nights. The Menara The park, extending over 90 hectares and planted with olive trees, is encircled by an adobe wall and has at its centre an immense artificial lake dating back to the 12th century. It boasts the first known example of a system of canalisation and water distribution. At one end of the lake stands an elegant Saadian pavilion, completely restored in the nineteenth century, which, as night falls upon the beautiful pyramid of its green-tiled roof, glimmers golden in the rays of the setting sun. The Menara once served as a royal venue for romantic trysts and is now a perfect spot for a quiet stroll against a background of snow-capped mountain peaks. The Saadian Tombs In 1591 work was begun in the south of the Kasbah on the Marrakesh Necropolis with the building of the first koubba (dome), which was to contain the tombs of the ancestors of the Saadian Sultan, Ahmed El-Mansour. Saadian princes had been buried here as early as 1557, mausoleums having been built in the 16th century to house the sepulchres of thirteen sovereigns. The delicacy of decoration, in perfect harmony with the purity of its architectural lines, makes the mausoleum a truly exceptional work. When Moulay Ismael took the city in 1677, he had protective walls built around the tombs and the mausoleums were not rediscovered until 1917. Bab Ahmar Bab Ahmar, or "the Red Gate," stands behind the largest cemetery in Marrakesh. Built by the Alaouites, in the 18th century, it was exclusively used by the Sultans to get to their nearby palace. When the King is not staying in Marrakesh, the gate is now in public use giving access to the Mechouar square adjacent to Dar El-Makhzen. Dar El Makhzen Originally built by the Almohads, Dar El Makhzen was enlarged and embellished by numerous sultans of successive dynasties. The most recent major restoration work took place at the beginning of the reign of His late Majesty, King Hassan II, it being a favourite residence of his where he often stayed. Jemaa-El-Fna This vast square, alive in the morning with fruit and spice sellers, Guerrab (water sellers) with their leather water skins and metal cups, barbers, and a host of other hawkers and peddlers is transformed in the afternoon: Gnaoua (dancers of Guinean descent), musicians, story-tellers, snake charmers and monkey trainers mark out their halqa, and the entertainment begins. The Agdal Gardens In an attempt to escape the heat of the desert, the Almoravids laid out this vast shady garden in the 12th century. Hundreds of fruit trees, planted over an area three km in length and one and a half in width, are still irrigated by a network of ditches dug at that time. The Agdal Gardens were enlarged several times in the days of the Saadians, then revamped and encircled by ramparts in the 19th century at the behest of Moulay Abderrahmane. This splendid site also contains artificial lakes, the larger of which dates from the time of the Almohads. Its waters reflect Dar El-Hana, a ruined palace from the Saadian era. At the heart of the garden stands a summerhouse whose columned walls let in the sunlight upon a splendidly decorated ceiling. El-Badi Palace The building of this vast and sumptuous palace was ordered by Ahmed El-Mansour in 1578, following his victory over the Portuguese at the famous Battle of the Three Kings. Designed to host magnificent receptions and banquets, it counted three hundred and sixty rooms arranged around a large inner courtyard adorned with a pool and blooming flowerbeds. Pillaged in 1696 by order of Moulay Ismael to provide decoration for his royal palaces in Meknes, only the shell of this once resplendent edifice remains. The Majorelle Gardens This enchanting spot, planted with bougainvillea, coconut palms, banana trees, bamboo and palm trees, was created in the 1920s by the French painter, Jacques Majorelle. In the heart of all this lush greenery, the painter built a large studio, pergolas and arbours all painted in vivid blue. Following the painter’s death in 1962, the property was abandoned, being restored to its former glory a few years ago by French couturier, Yves Saint-Laurent who now uses it as a second home. The Medersa Ben Youssef One of the most beautiful buildings in Marrakesh, the school was completely restored around 1565 by order of the Saadian Sultan, Moulay Abdellah, and went on to become the most important Koranic University in the Maghreb. Its Andalusian- influenced architecture is characterised by a harmonious blend of mosaic and stucco, and of marble and zellij. In the inner courtyard, on either side of a white marble pond, are two galleries supported by pillars and carved wooden transoms. The prayer room is subtly lit by openwork gypsum windows topped by stalactite cupolas, while the upper floor contains over a hundred soberly decorated students’ rooms opening onto small inner courtyards. The Mosque of the Golden Apples The street just to the right of Bab Aguenaou, leads into the Kasbah, to the El-Mansour Mosque, which was built in the 12th century during the reign of Sultan Yacoub El-Mansour. Following the explosion in 1569, the mosque was restored bit by bit and was renamed the Mosque of the Golden Apples in the 16th century. Legend has it that, like their counterparts atop the nearby Koutoubia, the globes crowning the lantern of its minaret, were fashioned from the jewellery belonging to Sultan Yacoub El-Mansour’s wife. Beautiful and grandiose at the same time, the layout and decor of this majestic mosque have remained a model of classical architecture down the centuries. The surroundings of Marrakech The Ourika Valley The Ourika valley is a delightful landscape of patchwork fields and sandstone villages clinging to the mountainsides. Starting from Setti Fatma, you can enjoy a stroll, visit the Jbel Yagour rock carvings or make an excursion to the Oukaimeden massif. The valley is of extraordinary depth and through it run the churning waters of the river of the same name, flowing through the foothills of the Atlas, to irrigate the valley and keep its orchards and terraces green all year round. Content provided by Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Royal Air Maroc