Hello my friends, I hope you're doing very well, in this post I'm going to share with you my visit I made to the historic Koutoubia mosque, the Lalla Hasna park, the Mamounia gardens, and finishing with a tour along the Marrakech Wall!
I began my walk in front of the historic Koutoubia mosque, a true symbol of Marrakech. Its tall, slender minaret dominates the city and seems to watch over it with benevolence. It can be seen from afar, like a reassuring landmark in the landscape.
This mosque was built in the 12th century, during the time of the Almohads. It is impressive for its size and the finesse of its architecture. I took the time to admire its beauty from the outside, and what I admired was that you can see the minaret from several angles in the gardens that surround the mosque, which gives extraordinary views, which attract all the visitors and tourists who are really numerous here !
Just next to the Koutoubia mosque is the Lalla Hasna park. Here, everything seems calmer and more beautiful. The palm-lined paths and colourful flowers invite you to take a stroll. I sat down on a bench in the shade of an olive tree after a long walk to discover the place, and began to observe the comings and goings of tourists enjoying this soothing space. Families, children running and playing, couples strolling hand in hand... A beautiful fountain with Moroccan zellige adds a magnificent charm to this park.
This park is one of the old parks of the city of Marrakech, redeveloped and opened to the public in 2002 - houses a basin constituting one of the hydraulic components of this garden. This square-shaped pool (10x10m) is traditionally built from adobe and baked brick and coated with sand and lime. Three arches open into three of its walls, forming openings used to supply the garden with water through underground terracotta pipes (canals).
This basin is of great historical importance in that it bears witness to the ingenious traditional irrigation techniques adopted in the historic gardens of Marrakech (Arsat, Agdal, etc.), of which the Khettara and the basin are the main components.
This information about the basin comes from a poster placed next to it !
Next, I head for the Mamounia gardens, past one of Morocco's most luxurious and prestigious hotels: La Mamounia. This place is steeped in history. It once belonged to Prince Moulay Mamoun, who received it as a gift from his father, Sultan Mohamed ben Abdallah El Alaoui. This history gives the place a special aura.
As soon as I arrived, I was immediately struck by the serenity and beauty that reign here. Everything here exudes beauty and refinement. Walkways lined with olive and lemon trees.... I take a few moments to stop and admire this legendary hotel, which has welcomed celebrities and historical figures from all over the world.
To finish my walk, I decided to take a closer look at the Marrakech city walls, the imposing fortifications that surround the medina. Several centuries old, they were erected during the reign of the Almoravids to protect the city from invasion. Their ochre colour, which changes according to the light of day, gives them an almost magical appearance. I walk along the wall, following its irregular curves, discovering majestic ancient gates here and there, which seem to tell a thousand stories of caravans and sultans. I try to imagine Marrakech in the days when these walls were the city's guardians, bearing witness to its bustling trade and historic battles.
The wall of Marrakech was built in 1126 by the Caliph Ali ben Youssef ben Tachfine, on the proposal of the judge Abi al Walid Ibn Rochd, during the appearance of Mehdi Ibn Toumart. The wall is nine kilometres long, with additions made during the Almohad period, then under the Saadians and the Alawites, to reach its current length of nine kilometres and eight hundred metres. Its height varies between eighteen and nineteen metres, and its width between two and 1.40 metres.
I discovered after hours of roaming how magical Marrakech is, the ideal fusion of architecture and environment, history and modernity. Every location I visited gave me a delightful surprise and a distinct feeling. I have a lot of gratitude for this day and a head full of memories as I head out. And most importantly, the desire to return again and time again!
Stay with me, then, since I'll be showing you more amazing locations shortly. There are still so many things to share with you in the form of natural wonders, historic monuments, and tourist sites!
Thank you for taking the time to read this! I hope you've enjoyed the photos I've shared with you. Please let me know what you think. Take care of yourself and I'll see you soon for another post!
I'm Redwan from Morocco ! I've always had a passion for travelling and discovery. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than exploring new places, whether historical, archaeological or in the heart of nature. Through my blogs, you can discover the hidden gems of Morocco, whether you want to admire the fascinating architecture of a historic site, delve into the legends surrounding an archaeological site, or simply marvel at the beauty of Moroccan nature!
Photos taken by my own phone (Samsung Galaxy A04s).
