Imperial cities of Morocco
Four dazzling cities.
Indeed, they were built to dazzle. Conceived as capitals, each one outshines
the splendour of the others. And as soon as you leave them, you cannot wait
to return. That is the imperious call of the four imperial cities.
Mischung verschiedener Baustile, ein Ozean, der Surfer und Taucher verbindet,
wilde Buchten, eine groBziigige, durch eine leichte Brise temperierte Sonne,
eine Handwerkerschaft, die in ganz Marokko beruhmt ist, eine kostliche regionale
Kiiche, eine Gastfreundschaft von rlihrender Aufrichtigkeit: in Essaouira, dem
ehemaligen Mogador, findet man all das, wovon ein Reisender nur traumen kann.
Meknes
The store rooms of Dar el-Ma (Water Tower) give you a glimpse of the sheer
size of the imperial city. These 3-metre thick walls provided perfect protection
for food stores, grain and hay for the 12,000 horses kept in the vast stables
which are still standing today. From the terrace of the Dar el-Ma, you will
discover the magnificent Agdal Souani basin, a 4-hectare reservoir. Designed
to irrigate the gardens, it was also a useful water supply.
The Moulay Ismail Mausoleum: a courtyard embellished with mosaics, fountains,
engraved marble, a carved cedar ceiling, the ground strewn with sumptuous Meknes
carpets, the last resting place of Moulay Ismail is as opulent as the magnificent
palaces he lived in.
Against the backdrop of the medina with its roofs and minarets, and set in
a garden lush with flowers and fruit trees, is the Meknes Royal Golf club. .
The charm lasts until nightfall, for here you can play on the floodlit course
by moonlight.
Dating back to pre-Roman times, Volubilis became one of the capitals of lst-century
Mauritania. It prospered thanks to a thriving trade in oil, corn and wild animals,
and was endowed with magnificent buildings.
OULAY IDRISS
The neighbouring terrace affords a wonderful panoramic view: the silver ribbon
of the oued Khouman, the imposing mass of the Jebel Zerhoun, the town with its
houses clinging to the hillside and clambering up the facing slopes of the Tazga.
In August, a moussem attracts thousands of pilgrims who pitch their tents around
the town.
Contemplating the magnificent age-old cedar forests, allowing your thoughts
to float up among the tree tops, gazing at the calm lakes, letting your imagination
take flight in the company of blue tits and wrens the Middle Atlas expands your
inner space.
DYLLIC NATURE AROUND MEKNES
Cool, typical, and extremely pleasant, the town of Azrou is in perfect harmony
with its surroundings. The place Mohamed V is surrounded by cafes, shops and
arcaded houses with painted wood facades, for Azrou is famed for its wood, the
speciality of the local craftsmen.
At an altitude of 1650 metres (5,400 feet), Ifrane is delightful with its pink-tiled
houses and little gardens. Every detail has been taken care of to enable visitors
to enjoy nature to the full: skiing in winter, trout and crayfish fishing in
the summer, walking up to the Cascade des Vierges waterfall...
What a thrill to slalom between the fragrant cedars! The Michliffen runs are
so beautiful that the minute you reach the bottom, you can't wait to go up again.
On the road to Azrou, after the Academie Royale, are the stud farms which
are open to visitors from Monday to Friday. The stallions are superb...
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