Ourika Valley

Last updated
Ourika Valley
Ourika Valley.jpg
Ourika Valley
Morocco relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Ourika Valley
Naming
Native nameوادي أوريكا (Arabic)
Geography
Coordinates 31°20′37.00″N7°45′4.72″W / 31.3436111°N 7.7513111°W / 31.3436111; -7.7513111 Coordinates: 31°20′37.00″N7°45′4.72″W / 31.3436111°N 7.7513111°W / 31.3436111; -7.7513111

Ourika Valley is a valley in the Moroccan High Atlas along the Ourika River. It is located around 30 km from Marrakech, and is essentially populated by Berber people speaking Shilha. Despite its proximity to Marrakech, it is still considered a relatively well-preserved valley, by its very nature a and traditional mountain way of life. [1]

Contents

History

Ourika is the name of one of the most famous tribes, written by Ibn Khaldoun.

Monuments and touristic sites

Setti-Fatma

Setti-Fatma is the last small town (or douar) which is accessible by the paved route. It is the departure point for many excursions to the nearby mountains. The most prized and most easy hike consists of mounting the length of a mountain torrent in order to discover the cascades.

Tnine-de-l’Ourika

It is a little village (or douar) without great architectural interest. It is however the center of the weekly traditional market (or souk ), taking place every Monday (or tnine in Arabic).

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marrakesh</span> Prefecture-level city in Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco

Marrakesh or Marrakech is the fourth largest city in the Kingdom of Morocco. It is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco and is the capital of the Marrakesh-Safi region. The city is situated west of the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Marrakesh is 580 km (360 mi) southwest of Tangier, 327 km (203 mi) southwest of the Moroccan capital of Rabat, 239 km (149 mi) south of Casablanca, and 246 km (153 mi) northeast of Agadir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlas Mountains</span> North African mountain range

The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range in the Maghreb in North Africa. It separates the Sahara Desert from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean; the name "Atlantic" is derived from the mountain range. It stretches around 2,500 km (1,600 mi) through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The range's highest peak is Toubkal, which is in central Morocco, with an elevation of 4,167 metres (13,671 ft). The Atlas mountains are primarily inhabited by Berber populations. The terms for 'mountain' are Adrar and adras in some Berber languages, and these terms are believed to be cognates of the toponym Atlas. The mountains are also home to a number of animals and plants which are mostly found within Africa but some of which can be found in Europe. Many of these species are endangered and a few are already extinct. The weather is cooling but has sunny summers, and the average temperature there is 25°C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jemaa el-Fnaa</span> Moroccan cultural heritage site

Jemaa el-Fnaa is a square and market place in Marrakesh's medina quarter. It remains the main square of Marrakesh, used by locals and tourists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Atlas</span> Mountain range in central Morocco

High Atlas, also called the Grand Atlas, is a mountain range in central Morocco, North Africa, the highest part of the Atlas Mountains.

The culture of Morocco is a blend of Arab, Berber, Jewish, and Western European cultures. It represents and is shaped by a convergence of influences throughout history. This sphere may include, among others, the fields of personal or collective behaviors, language, customs, knowledge, beliefs, arts, legislation, gastronomy, music, poetry, architecture, etc. ... While Morocco started to be stably predominantly Sunni Muslim starting from 9th–10th century AD, in the Almoravids empire period, a very significant old Jewish population had contributed to the shaping of Moroccan culture. In antiquity, starting from the second century A.D and up to the seventh, a rural Donatist Christianity was present, along an urban still-in-the-making Roman Catholicism. All of the cultural super strata tend to rely on a multi millennial aboriginal Berber substratum still strongly present and dates back to prehistoric times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riad (architecture)</span> Type of interior garden or house

A riad is a type of traditional Moroccan and Andalusi interior garden or courtyard associated with house and palace architecture. Its origin is generally attributed to Persian gardens that spread during the Islamic period. The term is nowadays often used in Morocco to refer to a hotel or guesthouse-style accommodation with shared common areas and private rooms, often within a restored traditional mansion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marrakech Museum</span> Art museum in Marrakesh, Morocco

The Museum of Marrakech is a historic palace and museum located in the old center of Marrakesh, Morocco. In addition to its notable architecture, the museum's collection showcases various historic art objects and contemporary art from Morocco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aït Benhaddou</span> Historical village in southeastern Morocco

Aït Benhaddou is a historic ighrem or ksar along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh in Morocco. It is considered a great example of Moroccan earthen clay architecture and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

Nass Marrakesh is a Gnawa music group formed in 1991. They have evolved in directions unknown before for Gnawa musicians with the introduction of instruments foreign to Gnawa music such as the djembe, tam-tam, mandolin, tabla and Afro-Cuban percussion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gzenaya</span>

Gzenaya or Igzenayen is the name of a tribe in the mountainous Rif region in northern Morocco.

Jil Jilala is a Moroccan musical group which rose to prominence in the 1970s among the movement created by Nass El Ghiwane and Lem Chaheb. Jil Jilala was founded in Marrakech in 1972 by performing arts students Mohamed Derhem, Moulay Tahar Asbahani, Sakina Safadi, Mahmoud Essaadi, Hamid Zoughi and Moulay Abdelaziz Tahiri. In 1974, they released their first record Lyam Tnadi on the Atlassiphone label. The songs "Leklam Lemrassaa," "Baba Maktoubi," "Ha L'ar a Bouya," "ah ya Jilala" and "Chamaa" quickly achieved the status of popular 'classics.'

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ourika River</span> River

Ourika River is a river in Morocco, at 31.4°N 7.783333°W. It rises in the High Atlas and flows through the Ourika Valley, 30 km from Marrakech.

Ouled Aissa may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landmarks of Marrakesh</span>

This article describes notable landmarks and architecture in the city of Marrakesh, Morocco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan</span> Motorsport venue in Morocco

The Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan is a 2.971 km (1.846 mi) temporary street circuit in Agdal district, Marrakech, Morocco. The circuit is operated by MGP. It has a capacity of 10,000 spectators.

Ait Ourir is a town and municipality in Al Haouz Province, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco. At the time of the 2004 census, the commune had a total population of 20,005 people living in 3767 households. The town lies on the northern bank of the Ourika River, 29.8 kilometres (18.5 mi) by road to the northwest of Tighedouine and 33.3 kilometres (20.7 mi) east of the city centre of Marrakesh.

Acrodenta is an extinct genus of Late Permian captorhinid known from Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz of Morocco.

Sidi Abdelmoumen is a town and rural commune in Chichaoua Province of the Marrakech-Safi region of Morocco. At the time of the 2014 census, the commune had a total population of 9007 people living in 1908 households, it content many douars like Tarselt, Ait Smail, Tadnest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zawiya of Sidi Abd el-Aziz</span> Religious building in Marrakesh, Morocco

The Zawiya of Sidi Abd el-Aziz is an Islamic religious complex (zawiya) in Marrakesh, Morocco. It is centered around the tomb of the Muslim scholar and Sufi saint Sidi Abu Faris Abd al-Aziz Abd al-Haq at-Tabba', who died in Marrakesh in 1508. Sidi Abd el-Aziz is considered one of the Seven Saints of Marrakesh, and his tomb was a prominent stop for pilgrims to Marrakesh. The zawiya is located on Rue Mouassine at its intersection with Rue Amesfah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slat al-Azama Synagogue</span> Synagogue in Marrakesh, Morocco

The Slat al-Azama Synagogue or Lazama Synagogue is one of the best-known synagogues in Marrakesh, Morocco. It is located in the historic Mellah of the old city.

References

  1. Ellingham, Mark (2001). The rough guide to Morocco. London: Rough Guides. ISBN   1-85828-601-8. OCLC   59534815.