Marrakesh is nestled at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. It is a very popular tourist destination. There is lots to do and see in and around Marrakesh and it is a vibrant and cultural city which has lots history as well as some great architecture.
The sites include Bahia Palace, Koutoubia Mosque and The Majorelle Garden which was once owned by Yves Saint Laurent.
Our first stop in Marrakesh was the airport to pick up our friend Louise. She was going to be travelling with us for 10 days and staying at hotels and Air BNB’s along the way. Her return flight was from Agadir so we had 10 days to get there!
Louise had pre booked a hotel in Marrakesh for the first 2 nights, so after finding a park up that we thought was quite close we went to find her hotel.
If you’ve ever been to Marrakesh you will know there is a big square at the heart of the city called Jemaa el-Fnaa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The square is alive with street performers, food vendors, and musicians. The sites, smells and sounds make it a fascinating place to visit and make up the whole atmosphere of the square and Marrakesh itself.
Once you go into the small streets running off the square it can get very confusing it really is a labyrinthe!
The 2 photos below show the route to Louise’s hotel and her actual hotel which was right next to the building that looks like its falling down.
After finding Louise’s hotel and dropping off her luggage we went to have a wander around in the medina and also get some lunch.
We had all been to Marrakesh before roughly 15 years ago. The main difference we noticed was how calm it was compared to our first time there. People did talk to us but it was definitely a lot quieter and we were able to walk around without being ‘hassled’! This was a big contrast and also a welcome change.
Our lunch as you can see was followed by ‘mint tea’. The Moroccans serve mint tea in silver pots like the one in the photo and then in glasses. It is usually with actual tea bags and quite sweet. As Dee and I don’t really like tea we much prefer to just have hot water and mint without the tea and with only a little sugar.
Koutoubia Mosque
The Koutoubia Mosque is Marrakesh’s most iconic landmark and a masterpiece of Almohad architecture. It is 77 meters tall, its towering minaret dominating the city skyline. Built in the 12th century, it is the largest mosque in Marrakesh and a significant symbol of Islamic art and heritage. The mosque’s name, derived from “koutoubiyyin” (booksellers), reflects the bustling book market that once surrounded it. Non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque, but its exterior is quite spectacular, featuring intricate arches, decorative tilework, and lush gardens. At night the minaret is illuminated and it looks stunnning.
Our park up was actually very close to mosque. It was a guarded car park with security 24 hours. I would definitely recommend a guarded car park or camp site around most cities just for peace of mind. We were about a 15 minute walk from Louise’s hotel.
Here’s some photos of the mosque.
Anima- André Heller‘s Magic Garden
This is an absolute must if you are heading to Marrakesh.
It is roughly 30 minutes drive from Marrakesh and I believe there are buses that run there from city centre, although Im not sure exactly where.
At this point you may be wondering who is André Heller?
André Heller is an Austrian artist, author, poet, songwriter, director and actor.
He first visited Marrakesh in the early 1970’s and fell in love with it.
In 2008 he began work on what is now considered to be his most personal and ambitious project to date, ANIMA.
He bought an empty plot of land, 2 hectares with fertile soil. In just 8 years he created an extraordinary artistic garden, embedding work by various artists including Pablo Picasso.
Today AMINA is described by the international press as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. It is a difficult place to describe. We’re sure it’s completely unique and definitely worth visiting.
Some of the photos below are actually taken with mirrors in front, so taken looking into the mirror.
It was such a fabulous place to visit you can’t not come out smiling.
There is a cafe there too if you do want to sit and have a drink or some food whilst there.
It was also incredibly hard choosing which photos to post! So here’s some more!
Although Louise had booked 2 nights accommodation in Marrakesh we decided to move on after visiting AMINA.
Our next destination is Lake Takerkoust to unwind. It had been recommended by ‘The Battery People’ and they were actually back there also enjoying the calm .
If you’re not sure who the ’Battery People’ are then please see our previous post. https://jodeeontheroad.com/2024/11/14/vanlife-adventures-in-morocco-from-casablanca-to-ouzoud-waterfalls/
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