General information about Morocco
The Arab country in northern Africa has a population of 35.7 million. Morocco covers an area of 446,550 km² and borders Algeria and Mauritania. The country is characterised by the coastal regions, the large mountains and the foothills of the Western Sahara. The form of government is a monarchy with elements of parliamentary democracy and central prerogatives of the king. The head of state has been King Mohammed VI of Morocco since 1999. The Human Development Index ranks 121. The official language of the country is Arabic or Darja. The second official language, French, dates back to the time of the French colonies. Some time ago, the colonies colonised countries all over the world, resulting in the language being spoken in other countries. Spanish is also spoken in the north of Morocco, as it is geographically close to Spain. Since it is taught at school, part of the population speaks English. Berbers, or Amazigh, are part of the indigenous Moroccan population. About 40% of the Moroccan population speaks a dialect. The dialects can be divided into several zones:
In the north: Tarifit
In the centre: Tamazight
In the south: Taschelhit
The capital Rabat is located in the northwest on the banks of the Bouregreg and the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the most breathtaking royal cities in Morocco. It covers 117 km² and has a population density of 5,124 inhabitants per km². In Rabat itself there are various possibilities to experience a holiday with a lot of cultural exchange. For example, there is the Hassan Tower. This incomplete tower of a mosque dates back to the 12th century. Another highlight is the landmark Kasbah des Oudaïas. This royal fortress stands for Islamic and French heritage. The landmark dates from the Berber era and is surrounded by French-designed gardens.
Other important royal cities in Morocco
Fés: The city is the oldest royal city in Morocco. In 1981, parts of it were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also the third largest city after Casablanca and Rabat, with a population of 1.112 million. Fés is home to the largest and oldest medina. A medina is a term for an old town in North African countries characterised by cul-de-sacs and winding streets. The religious centre is the Friday Mosque. This is surrounded by individual quarters with their own infrastructure. Travellers are recommended to visit an urban market, a so-called souk. There you can buy high-quality fabrics, spices and decorations. The souks in Fés are sorted according to the different branches of trade. The different branches are divided into spices, fresh fruit and vegetables and handicrafts, jewellery and goldsmiths.
Marrakech: The city is one of the most important commercial centres with many mosques, palaces and gardens. The Moorish minaret of the 12th century Koutoubia Mosque can be seen for miles around and serves as a symbol of the city. With a population of 928,850 and an area of 230 km², Marrakech is smaller than Fés. In the souks of the medina, the unusual colours, smells and sounds stand out. At the centre is the Djemaa el Fna square. The so-called “Square of the Beheaded” causes much fascination among travellers. Snake charmers, storytellers and music groups go about their business in this square. The scents of traditional cuisine drift through the alleys of Marrakech in the evening hours.
Meknès: Located in the north of Morocco, Meknès has a population of around 600,000 and lies at the foot of the middle Atlas Mountains. In the old town, tourists experience a medieval city flair. However, as soon as you enter the Ville Nouvelle district, you experience a modern atmosphere. The oriental old town dates back to the 10th century. In the 18th century, the old city flourished anew and strengthened its Islamic character. Today, the 40-kilometre-long wall still bears witness to the historical boundaries of the core city with its impressive, mosaic-covered gates.
The religious side of Morocco
Around 99% of the locals belong to the religion Islam and another 90% of them are Sunnis. Religion occupies a large and important place in Morocco, as the population is very devout. People pray and go to the mosque more often during the day. Morocco’s mosques are often a tourist attraction, although this is sometimes frowned upon by locals. In larger cities, visiting the impressive mosques is allowed, but in more rural areas it is not tolerated. If it is possible to visit a mosque, out of respect, take off your shoes before entering. Also, one should cover the body and hair. There should also be a lot of respect and discretion inside. About 1.1% of the population profess Christianity and about 0.2% profess Judaism. Christians from abroad are allowed to practise the religion. It is not permitted to pass on the Christian message or literature to Muslims. Officially, it is permitted to convert to another faith as a Muslim. However, converts are often under strong social pressure and have to fear social isolation.
One of the most important religious celebrations in Islam is Ramadan. The month of fasting lasts more than a month and stretches from new moon to new moon. At the end, the three-day Eid al-Fitr takes place. Ramadan is celebrated all over the world and is considered a time of spiritual discipline, individual purification, compassion, charity and reflection. In Morocco, the period of religious contemplation is marked by regional traditions and ceremonies. On the eve of the 1st day of fasting, the Tarawih prayer takes place, which has great significance. The rules of Ramadan include abstaining from food, drink and stimulants. In addition, abstinence, i.e. abstaining from sexual intercourse, is another rule. Children under 14, travellers, sick people, pregnant women, nursing mothers and menstruating women are excluded from the rules and do not participate in Ramadan. In addition, the Ramadan period has an impact on tourism. Many restaurants and shops have changed opening hours to accommodate the fasting period.
Traditional dishes
Although ingredients and preparation techniques vary, traditional dishes are common throughout the country. A well-known feature of Moroccan cuisine is the tajine pot. The pot has a cone-shaped lid that was originally made by the Berbers from clay. Nowadays, there are tajines made of hard ceramic and cast iron ceramic that can be used on all types of cookers and in the oven. The dishes that are prepared in this pot are also called tajines. Meat, fish or vegetables are prepared in olive oil or argan oil and then served. A fruity and savoury combination of beef with plums or lamb with quince is particularly popular. Morocco is also known for its couscous dishes. It is made from durum wheat semolina, barley, rye or maize. In Morocco, couscous is steamed over boiling water or a boiling dish. During Lent, a soup made of lentils and chickpeas called harira is eaten. Furthermore, briouats, dumplings filled with meat, vegetables, cheese or sweet ingredients, are very popular in Morocco. Another speciality is pastilla, which is a savoury-sweet puff pastry paste. Many Moroccans also enjoy skewers of lamb, beef, minced meat or chicken. This is accompanied by salad, such as “Salade Marocaine“, which consists mainly of chopped tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. One of the most important ingredients of Moroccan cuisine is bread. In restaurants, flat bread and olives are often served at the beginning. For dessert, there is usually fruit (oranges with cinnamon, bananas, apples) or sweet pastries that have honey and almonds as ingredients.
Is Morocco safe for tourists?
Before entering Morocco, one should be sufficiently informed about the current political situation. In the tourist areas where our villas are located, there is no danger for tourists. Armed policemen can often be seen at the popular and much visited tourist spots. Armed security personnel can also be seen more often in public places such as train stations or bus stations. This quickly appears threatening to travellers, but provides more security because criminals are deterred. The aim is to reduce the number of thefts and terrorist attacks. If you follow the recommendations of the Foreign Office, Morocco is definitely a safe holiday destination! As long as you treat the people and the culture with the necessary respect, there is nothing to be said against a nice holiday with lots of exchange. The big difference to European countries like Germany can be particularly interesting for travellers.
