Marrakech

Marrakech, also Marrakesh, city, western Morocco, capital of Marrakech Province, on the fertile Haouz Plain, at the foot of the High Atlas Mountains. The traditional southern capital of the sultans and a major trade center, Marrakech is a rail terminus and a road and caravan center, connected with the Atlantic port of Safi. Industries include the processing of fruit, vegetables, and palms; tanning; and the manufacture of wool, flour, building materials, and handicrafts, notably leather goods and carpets. Lead, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and graphite mines are nearby, and the area is studded with date-palm oases. Of interest in the city are the ruined walls, twisting streets, and markets; the casino; the sultan's palace and gardens; the 12th-century Koutoubia mosque; the royal tombs; and Aguedal Park. Founded in 1062, Marrakech was capital of the Almoravides and, in the 12th century, capital of the Almohades. The city prospered under the later Saadis and was an important Saharan trade center. After the French occupation, the modern part of the city was built in 1913. The city was also called Morocco. Population (2004) 823,154.