To know in Morocco

Souk

Meaning "market", the souk is a commercial and human crossroads, and the vital organ of commercial activity. In the villages, it takes place once or several times a week and usually takes place in the morning. In urban centers, it is usually located in the medina, where products are grouped by corporation.

Moroccan Kasbah

Fortified earthen buildings, they are typical of the Berber architecture of southern Morocco. Erected near the villages, they served both as a stately home and as a fortified castle. They are built on stone foundations, with raw bricks made of earth and straw. The material used makes them particularly vulnerable to weather and time.

Medina

This word ("city" in Arabic) today refers to old cities, often surrounded by ramparts. Interlaced with winding alleys and squares, they are real labyrinths. Nevertheless, it is possible, with a good sense of direction, to navigate without too much difficulty. Strolling there is a dive into a bygone world, and yet very much alive. You will be able to observe the know-how of the craftsmen, let yourself be carried away by the bagout of the traders, admire the wonders of Islamic art. The largest and most famous medinas are those of Fez, Marrakech and Meknes.

Mellah

Jewish Quarter. Originally, the word mellah referred to the activity of caravanners who exchanged salt for gold. The first mellabas were jewish. Another version would attribute the name of mellah ("salt", in Arabic) to a part of Fez el-jedid, where was grouped, under the Merinids, the Jewish population of Fez, and which was watered by a brackish tributary of the Wadi Fez. Others say that the authorities forced Jews to salt the heads of the beheaded before they were displayed on the gates and city walls. Mellahs are distinguished by special architectural elements, including facades adorned with balconies.

Muezzin

In the past, this Muslim official climbed to the top of the minaret of his mosque to launch his "Allah Akbar" ("God is the greatest") which begins each of the five daily calls to prayer. Today, her powerful voice is usually relayed by loudspeakers, but she continues to chant the day of the faithful in all countries.

Moroccan Hammam

Heir to the Roman baths, the hammam holds an important place in a country where personal hygiene is fundamental. Moroccans go there frequently, both to wash themselves and to do their ablutions, in accordance with the precepts of the Qur'an. The steam bath, followed by an exfoliating massage and a cold shower, effectively purifies the skin. It is also an important social place. Of course, public baths are not mixed: men usually bathe in the morning and at the end of the day and women in the afternoon.