Ouarzazate (Afrique hollywood )

Ouarzazate ( Warzazat, Arabic: ورزازات‎, lit. "noiselessly") (called The door of the desert), is a city and capital of Ouarzazate Province in the Souss-Massa-Draâ of southern-central Morocco. As of 2004 it had a population of 56,616. Ouarzazate is located at an elevation of 1,160 metres (3,810 ft) in the middle of a bare plateau, south of the High Atlas Mountains. To the south of the town is the desert. The town is chiefly inhabited by Berbers, who constructed many of the prominent kasbahs and building for which the area is known for. Ouarzazate is one of the important holiday destinations in Morocco as a nodal point for excursion across the Draa Valley and desert in the area. The fortified village (ksar) of Ait Benhaddou has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.The town and surrounding area is also a noted film-making location, with Morocco's biggest studios inviting many international film companies to shoot their films. Films such as : Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Living Daylights (1987), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005) and Martin Scorsese's Kundun (1997) Legionnaire (1998) were shot in the Ouarazate area.

Ouarzazate Atlas Movies Studios

Marrakech

Marrakech or Marrakesh (Berber: Murakush, Arabic مراكش murrākuš, local pronunciation: marrakəš ), known as the "Red City", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history. The city of Marrakesh is the capital of the mid-southwestern economic region of Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains.Like many North African cities, the city of Marrakesh comprises both an old fortified city (the médina) and an adjacent modern city (called Gueliz) for a total population of 1,070,000.[1] It is served by Ménara International Airport (IATE code: RAK) and a rail link to Casablanca and the north.Marrakech has the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco and also has one of the busiest squares in Africa and the world, Djemaa el Fna. The square bustles with acrobats, story-tellers, water sellers, dancers and musicians. By night food stalls open in the square turning it into a huge busy open-air restaurant.

Casablanca

Casablanca (Arabic: الدار البيضاء "ad-Dār al-Bayḍāʼ", original name in Amazigh: Anfa /) is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.

With a population of 3,299,428,^[1] Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It's also the biggest city in the Maghreb. Casablanca is considered the economic and business center of Morocco, while the political capital city of Morocco is Rabat.

Casablanca hosts headquarters and main industrial facilities for the leading Moroccan and international companies based in Morocco. Industrial statistics show Casablanca retains its historical position as the main industrial zone of the country. The Port of Casablanca is one of the largest artificial ports in the world,^[2] and the largest port of North Africa.^[3] It is also the primary naval base for the Royal Moroccan Navy.

Agadir

Agadir (Arabic: أغادير‎ or أڭادير, Aġadīr or Agadīr,  is a major city in southwest Morocco, capital of the Agadir province (MA-AGD) and the Sous-Massa-Draa economic region (#13).

Land of hikers

From the sands of the Sahara to the Atlas mountains, Morocco offers an infinite variety of landscapes. An ideal playing field and one very much appreciated by cross-country hikers, riders and skiers.

A very varied landscape 

Undulating dunes, arid and rocky plateaus, secret gorges, lush green valleys, forests of cedar, Alep pine and cork oak… Nature has remained authentic everywhere. A diversity which any walker dreams of, whatever their level or the time of year. The landscape is very diverse over more than 700km. To the north, the mountains in the Rif chain provide slopes for experienced climbers; to the east, plateaus, forests, and stony desert pavements alternate; and finally to the south the Anti-Atlas range takes you to the ergs, the sandy deserts where you can make camp for a night or more under the stars.

The right pace for encounters 

 There is no shortage of means of covering the thousand and one trails in Morocco. Beginners and children will enjoy short trips perched on the back of a donkey or a camel. The more experienced can attempt the famous combined "mule-skiing" trip. For yes, it does snow in Morocco! This type of cross-country takes place from the beginning of February to the end of April. Doing this sort of cross-country is an excellent way of finding out about an undiscovered Morocco. The Berbers, the first inhabitants of Morocco, are one of the pillars of modern Morocco. They will introduce you to a universe of strong traditions through architecture, costumes, dances and local customs. Travelers who respect local ways are always welcome in accordance with the traditional rules of hospitality.

To remember

Travelling cross-country in Morocco is the best way of discovering the riches of the country and its inhabitants.

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM " Responsible, fair and sustainable "

By creating the responsible tourism charter, Morocco commits to making tourism an "instrument of peace and international understanding".

"Tourism is firstly a bridge between peoples and civilizations, an act of mingling peoples and cultures and, by its nature, an openness to the other and to modernity. Clean and responsible tourism, as it is respectful of mankind, nature, the environment and the rules and laws which govern the area." His Majesty King Mohammed VI has made tourism one of the national priorities with a clear focus: responsible tourism. The "Vision 2010" plan sets out precise measures and actions to enable fulfillment of the objective of tourism which fully plays its role in the country's development. Among the numerous initiatives is the Moroccan Responsible Tourism Charter, extracts of which include:

Respect for Values

"The key tourism development players must ensure that sufficient attention is drawn to the traditions and the culture of regions and inhabitants."

Respect for cultural wealth

"The tourism business must be designed so as to allow supervision and development of the traditional cultural, craft and national heritage products, and not causing their standardization or impoverishment."

Respect for the environment 

"It is the duty of all those involved in tourism development to protect the environment and natural resources as part of the objective for continuous and sustainable economic growth, in order to fairly satisfy the needs and aspirations of present and future generations."

Respect for childhood

"Exploitation of human beings in any form, particularly sexual, and especially when it targets children, attacks the fundamental objectives of tourism and represents a negation of it."

Moroccan Language and key vocabulary

Arabic is the language used in Morocco, but you will also be understood in French and Spanish in many places.

Modern and spoken Arabic 

Spoken Moroccan Arabic is the product of the country's historic and cultural influences. It includes expressions and words of Berber origin in everyday language. Modern Arabic is used by government, the media, the justice system, culture, religion as well as politics.

Foreign languages 

Geographical proximity and history make Spanish and French languages known by many Moroccans. In Tangier, Tétouan and Chefchaouen, the language of Cervantès is widely spoken. Meanwhile French is the country's first foreign language and is spoken throughout the country.

 

A few common words in Moroccan Arabic 

Yes = na’am/lyyeh
No = la
Thank you = choukran, barak el-lah fik
Okay = ouakha
Please = min fadlak / afak
Goodbye = be-slama
Good morning = sebah-el-kheir
Excuse me = smeh-li
How much is that? = chhal / chhal el-tamane
I do not understand = ma fhemt-ch

Galleries: art in all its forms.

Art is in our genes. It is a pivotal point of our culture and our identity.

Painters and light 

From Eugène Delacroix's first voyage in 1832, painters have paid homage to the colors and intense light which bathe the Kingdom of Morocco. Captivated by the images produced by Delacroix on his return from Tangier, many painters came to set out their easels here. During the 19th century, Matisse, Torres, Tapiés, Majorelle and Miro all succumbed to the charms of the landscape, the colors and the fascinating local scenes. Later, Nicolas de Staël, Francis Bacon and Edouard Degas would follow in their steps. Today, the country now has its own fine art schools and its own master painters.

Contemporary art 

Discover in your own time the many art galleries displaying our artists' talent and energy. These include the Bab Rouah Gallery in Rabat, housed in the monumental gateway of the same name. Four rooms regularly host magnificent works. Again in Rabat, a gallery has been created in Bab El Kébir, a gateway built in 1150. This is one of the joys of Almohad architecture. It has three exhibition rooms. In Marrakech, the Bab Doukala Gallery opened in 1989 in one of the main and oldest gates in the medina. It hosts exhibitions by Moroccan and foreign artists. Finally, the Portuguese old town in El Jadida, built in 1514, has been restored and refurbished and since 2000 houses an exhibition gallery. The galleries of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs are based in Essaouira, Fez, Marrakech, Rabat and Tétouan. But elsewhere, don't hesitate to push open the doors of private galleries, especially in Casablanca, as well as in El Jadida, Rabat, Essaouira, Meknès and Tangier. There you will discover a contemporary consciousness you can share in… And a lot of talent. This could be an opportunity for you to take home a specially chosen, timeless and intimate work.

To remember

Morocco has never ceased to inspire painters and artists. Its contemporary artists can be explored without restraint, out of enjoyment of artistic emotion. 

Secret gardens

There are natural parks where the wildlife lives freely and under protection. And refined gardens, where nature is tamed to create an environment to soothe the spirit.

Up and away 

Whether migratory or sedentary, many birds choose Moroccan natural parks. Come and discover this unspoilt nature. Pink flamingoes, gray cranes, herons and storks like the meandering Loukos river, south of Tangier or, like the bald ibis, are frequent visitors to the Souss Massa natural park near Agadir. The golden eagle and the white snake-eagle meanwhile prefer the Toubkal national park, south of Marrakech.

Unspoilt nature

Enjoy the rich and powerful fragrances of the forest, where you may cross the path of a stag or a porcupine. Mount Toubkal reveals a wild panorama of plunging gorges, through which crystal rivers flow. The national park of Tazzeka, to the east of Fez, comprises immense forests full of gorges and caves. Whether wild or tamed, nature is at the heart of our identity and our art of living.

Intimate gardens 

Moroccans are masters at the art of gardening. The Andalusian gardens of Rabat, the Mendoubia gardens in Tangier, Majorelle in Marrakech and the Skoura palm grove near Ouarzazate: harmony reigns in them all. These wonderful gardens of course demonstrate a desire to make a mark on the untamed world, but above all to provide serenity and comfort to the soul. The Ménara garden, again in Marrakech, spreads out from an immense pond dating from the Almohads. Also discover the exquisite refinement of the private gardens, designed to encourage reflection and elevation of the mind.

The Oriental Desert Express

The train runs between Oujda and Bouarfa along 305km of railway and offers you beautiful panoramas of the Sahara punctuated by occasional high dunes, nomadic encampments and small isolated villages. The train has three air-conditioned carriages with drinks and a hot meal served on board. Several stops are scheduled to immortalize your journey in photos, including Aïn Benimathar, Tendrara and Bouarfa.

To remember

Ideal for experiencing the magic of a day in the desert in complete comfort! An unforgettable experience!

For an unusual journey through magnificent desert landscapes, take the “Oriental Desert Express”!

Oriental Desert Express

Beaches for every taste

Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, Morocco has several thousand kilometers of coast whose landscapes are diverse and beaches welcoming.
 

Atlantic

he most visited beaches are naturally located not far from cities, especially on the Atlantic coast. But there are hundreds of others in places where nature has remained unspoilt. They all make it possible to sample the joys of swimming, relaxing and the latest water sports. On the Atlantic coast, the great majority of beaches appear as long strips of fine sand lapped by the ocean waves. They will be hotter the further south you go until you reach the sublime Dakhla Bay. The north-east trade wind blows regularly from the end of March to mid-September on this corner of the coast: ideal conditions for practicing all board sports, especially surfing. Whether you're a fan of windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing, wakeboarding or jet skiing, you can sure you will find the right waves here.

Mediterranean

On the more divided up coast of the Mediterranean, between Tangier and Al Hoceima, the sea is warm and calm and the beaches more intimate. Some are close to small traditional fishing villages, tucked into corners of idyllic nature. At the same time, new seaside resorts are springing up such as Tamuda Bay, on the outskirts of Tétouan and Saidia, which is a new Mediterranean coast resort. Facing Andalusia, Mediterrania-Saida extends over 1700 acres with a 6km seafront of white sand. A pleasure port and an 18-hole golf course complete this site which has been developed next to two international airports. The Atlantic is not sitting on its laurels either with new resorts such as Lixus, Mazagan, Taghazout and Plage Blanche.

The medersas

The imperial city is the capital of traditional Moroccan culture. Cradle of knowledge, for which its superb medersas are a flamboyant symbol.

Schools

A medersa is a school where the Koran is taught along with all the classic subject of learning: mathematics, grammar, history, astronomy, medicine… In Morocco, and especially in Fès, medersas have the important role of integrating students from other regions. Generally they are built around a central courtyard with a fountain. Classes are held under the sumptuous arcades bordering it.

The oldest university

The Karaouiyine mosque is one of the most imposing in Morocco. It houses a university which is thought to be the oldest in the world and which was founded in the middle of the 9th century at a time when theology, grammar and Koranic law were the basic subjects taught. The El-Attarine medersa, situated opposite it, is considered to be the most beautiful in the medina.

El-Attarine

The Merenids built this masterpiece between 1323 and 1325. Its central courtyard is magnificently decorated. Its walls are covered with sura engraved in wood or plaster. The fountain and marble columns are embellished with zellige (tiled mosaic).

 

Bou Inania

This medersa, built between 1350 and 1357, is the biggest in Fès . Pass through the magnificent entrance with its heavy copper work doors, and then be impressed by the abundance of earthenware, the refinement of the sculptured wood and plaster and the chiselled stalactites called mukarnas, the hallmark of Merenid architecture. A canopy of typical Fès green tiles surmounts the onyx and marble courtyard.

Moroccan museums: high art

Our culture is our identity, our history. In every town you can visit these places charged with memories. And discover a heritage of universal interest.

Palaces and riads

Admire the ancient palaces, the riads which have been transformed into our museums. Their magnificent, richly decorated, exhibition rooms are often real works of art in themselves. As is the case in Marrakech with the Dar Si Saïd museum of Moroccan arts! You will be overcome by the exceptional wealth of the collections exhibited there.

Art and memory 

At the Dar Batha in Fez, in the surroundings of a sumptuous palace, don't miss the rooms dedicated to arts and traditions, providing a real overview of knowledge. In Rabat, the Museum of Moroccan Art (formerly the Oudaïa Museum) presents unique pieces from pre-history up to the Islamic period. In Marrakech, in the Mnebhi palace at the heart of the medina, magnificent examples of the Koran reflect the richness of Arabic calligraphy. As for Meknès, its Dar Jamaï regional ethnographic museum is an Arabo-Andalusian architectural marvel which houses the essence of Moroccan craftsmanship in all its excellence and refinement.

Culture for everyone 

In Morocco, going to the museum is a way of discovering our history and our origins. Every region is proud of its particular characteristics. Embroidered fabrics, ceramics, jewelry, wooden sculptures and leather objects are the pinnacle of our craftsmanship. You can also discover the museums devoted to contemporary art, like the one in Tangier housed in the former British consulate, or to ceramics in Safi, where the national museum has been established in an old citadel erected by the Portuguese.