Morocco and its breathtaking landscapes
Since Monday, we take you to discover this wonderful country that is Morocco.
After Casablanca and Marrakech, let’s start today’s journey with the Atlas
Morocco is a country with very varied landscapes. Between dunes and beaches, the relief is also marked by the Atlas mountain range in the northern part of the country. The High Atlas region, where the highest peaks in North Africa are located, offers incredibly rich landscapes and will satisfy hiking and trekking lovers. Between green forests and arid valleys, snow-capped ridges and vast plateaus, the region is dotted with roads and paths allowing you to discover another side of Morocco, off the beaten track.
Among the must-see places, the Ourika Valley, near Marrakech, plunges visitors into the heart of raw nature, meeting the Berber tribes. The Atlas region also has important national parks such as Toukbal and Souss-Massa. The latter is home to the M’Goun massif, the slopes of which are the joy of skiers in winter.
Further south in the part called Anti-Atlas, there are still pleasant hiking trails accessible from the town of Taroudant. Here, the High Mountain has given way to oases, agricultural fields, torrents and waterfalls.
Let’s go discover Fez. Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful imperial cities in Morocco, what purists will call a “real Moroccan city”, with an authentic atmosphere and architecture. The old town, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has an important cultural heritage, shared between traditional souks, museums and medersas (Koranic schools).
Fez and its Medina, considered the cultural capital of Morocco, Fez is above all renowned for its fortified medina, the largest in the Maghreb, housing most of the city’s cultural institutions. In the Bab Jou-Jeloud district, accessible by the superb door of the same name covered with blue and green earthenware, visitors can stroll through the medieval streets, pass in front of the sublime ornaments of the medersa Bou Inania, discover the Karaouyine mosque, the one of the oldest and most prestigious in the Muslim world, or visit the Bar Batah museum, dedicated to the arts and traditions of the city.
Fez and the tanners’ quarter: Leather making is an ancestral art in Morocco. In Fez, the curious will be able to observe the manufacturing process of this fabric, a real show orchestrated in the style of a ballet: drying of skins, tanning, hanging, coloring in the vats, until their final version in the shops of leather goods.
Fez and the Medersa Bou Inania: Erected under the Merinid dynasty in 1350, this religious university is well worth a detour when visiting Fez, as it is one of the only religious monuments to be open to all public.
The monument has an architecture and a decoration typical of the Arab-Moorish style, with in its center a pretty central courtyard paved with marble, surrounded by carved wooden moucharabiehs. Upstairs, you can see the bedrooms where the students are staying. Formerly, the rules of this religious boarding school were very strict, since during exams, the boarders were fed only with bread, olives, and water. The Madrasah is the largest in the city, and also serves as a mosque for Friday prayers. Moreover, it is the only Koranic school with a minaret overlooking the city.
To conclude our journey of the day, we take you to Chefchaouen: Chefchaouen is a bit like the postcard of Morocco. Located in the northeast of the country, this mountain village is intriguing with its faded blue color that completely covers the walls of the houses. A stroll in the narrow streets of Chefchaouen almost transports us to an imaginary country, between change of scenery and enchantment. In the heart of the medina, the small winding streets are dotted with carpets, fabrics, herbs and spices, woven baskets and other handicrafts.
This welcoming village also has several historical monuments that can be seen at the bend of an alley: the central place Outa El-Hammam planted with trees is the daily meeting place for tourists and Chaounais, and you can contemplate there from one of the terraces the terracotta walls of the old Kasbah. Not far away is the Great Mosque, which can only be admired from the outside as the entrance is restricted to Muslims only.
Why this blue color? Blue reflects the sun’s rays, keeping homes cool. Copper sulphate mixed with lime gives this indigo color which also helps keep insects away. Moroccan tip, patent filed !!!
Stay connected …. from tomorrow, we will continue to show you this wonderful country…
Because Morocco and its breathtaking landscapes have not finished surprising you…
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