Morocco is a country in North Africa belonging to the Maghreb. Its political capital is Rabat while the economic capital and largest city of the country is Casablanca. The country is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west by Spain, the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Algeria to the east. And in the south, Morocco is bordered by Mauritania.

Geography :

Mountains
occupy more than two thirds of the Moroccan territory and reach significant heights. Several summets reach the altitude of 4 000 m. The Toubkal, the highest peak in the country, culminating at 4167 m. The Morocco has four main mountain ranges: the Rif, the High Atlas, Middle Atlas and Anti Atlas.

The Plains

The plains often have very large areas, stretching of the Rif mountains

to the Middle Atlas, the Sebou basin (36 000 km2) consists of low plateaus, rivers, some hills and fertile plains that allow the cultivation of many foods. In the west plain, there are fields of sugar beet, rice, sugar cane and tobacco. This plain is distinguished from others by the presence of forest Maâmora where there is exploitation of cork oaks and eucalyptus.

Vast plains appear as soon as one goes beyond the country Zaïr and tray phosphates. We find the Chaouia, Doukkala and further east at the foot of the Middle Atlas Tadla. Further south, there is the Haouz plain in the region of Marrakech and the Souss which is the triangle between ocean, High Atlas and Anti-Atlas.

Other plains and fertile valleys of smaller sizes are located mainly in the north (Lukos, Nekkor, Trifa, wadis Ouergha Valley, Baht, Inaouen …).

Desert

In the south, Erg Chebbi, near the Algerian border, is the second largest area of stones and sand in the interior of Morocco following the Erg Chegaga. Some dunes can reach 200 m in height.

The Moroccan climate is both Mediterranean and Atlantic, with hot dry season coupled with a cold, wet season, the end of the warm period being marked by the rains of October.

Touristic attractions :

Morocco’s imperial cities are the cities designated as the capital (Asima) at different times by different monarchs from the Moroccan dynasties (Idrissides, the Almoravids, Almohad Merinids Saadian and Alawites), these cities are:

• Fez, founded by Idrisid Sultan Idris I on 789 ;
• Marrakech, founded by the Almoravid Sultan Youssef Ibn Tachfinen on 1062 ;
• Rabat, founded by the Almohad Sultan Abd al-Muminen on 1150 ;
• Meknes, founded by the Alawite Sultan Moulay Ismaile on 1672, Morocco’s capital from 1672 to 1727.

Most visited places :

Marrakech
Marrakech is a city of about 2 million people, place of tourisme by excellence. Marrakech city has retained its authenticity. The city is composed of two parts: the new city and the old city. This is much appreciated by the stars probably for its narrow streets, its pretty riads and the population that is welcoming and warm. The new city is the opposite of the old city: new buildings, department stores, palm groves, golf courses, parks, hotels, clubs, swimming pools …

Especially not to be missed in Marrakech: Jamaa El Fna, the Koutoubia, the Ourika Valley, but also the Hotel La Mamounia.

Agadir
Agadir is the second tourist city of the kingdom on 2011 after Marrakech. It is the most popular resort in Morocco: its sandy coastline stretches over 10 km. Agadir is a dynamic city summer; other times it is a quiet town and enjoys 300 days of sunshine per year .It is also known by its souk (Souk el hed) and seaside resorts a few minutes from downtown such taghazout aghroud imiwada

Casablanca
Economic capital, Casablanca is the third tourist city in Morocco. People come here especially for business. Although Casa does not have the same vocation as its counterparts (Marrakech, Agadir), the city aims to extend the length of stay of visitors which does not exceed two days on average. It is for this purpose that the Regional Tourism Board has launched specific plans to put in place adequate infrastructure.

Meknès
Rich of its prestigious past, Meknes reserve unexpected surprises to those who come out slightly marked trails. Or who will listen to the stones … In town or near Meknes conceals splendid historical monuments. Unmissable, the Roman ruins of Volubilis and moussem Tissa Horse

Touristic religious sites :

• Mausoleum Moulay Ismail : built by Ahmed Eddahbi, open to non-Muslims.
• Nejjarine Mosque  : Mosque of the tenth century. It is located in the center of the medina.
• The big Mosque : Founded in the eleventh century by the Almoravids. It has 11 gates and 143 arcades.
• Jamai Mosque Roua : built on 1790 by Sidi Mohamed ben Abdellah.
• Mausoleum Sheikh El Kamel : built by Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, it houses the tomb of El Hadi Benaissa, founder of the brotherhood “Aissaoua”

Museums et Medersas :

• Museum Dar Jamai : place reflecting Moroccan haute bourgeoisie. In the late nineteenth century. It is converted into a museum of Moroccan arts and ethnographic since 1926.
• Medersa Bou Inania : theological institute, founded by Sultan Abu Hassan Marini (1331-1351). It has a patio and floor containing 26 rooms tolbas (students)
• Medersa Filalia  : historic building educational and religious. Built on 1789 by Moulay Ismail.
• Museum of the Rif pottery

Historical monuments :

Écuries royales

• Koubat Al Khayatine (Hall of Ambassadors) : pavilion in which the Sultan Moulay Ismail received ambassadors and foreign emissaries.
• Bab Lakhmis : big door richly decorated on seventeenth century.
• Bab Berdaine : majestic gate built by Moulay Ismail on the seventeenth century.
• Dar El Beida : Alawite nineteenth-century palace built by Sultan Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah. Today it houses the Royal Military Academy.
• Fandouk El Hanna : cultural complex. Property of Habous.
• Ksar Mansour : palace and attic. Public domain.
• Haras : created on 1914 as an institution of military rises. Ino 1947, it became a horse-breeding center.
• Attic and stables : gigantic architectural complex built by Moulay Ismail. It is for storage of food.
• Bassin Agdal : great water storage basin 319 m long and 149 m wide. Its depth exceeds 2 m. It is built by Moulay Ismail to irrigate the gardens of Meknes and is a water reserve for the medina.
• Cara Prison : prison (underground silo) is named Cara, architect and Portuguese prisoner.

The most famous historical monuments :

Palace Dar El Makhzen

• The palace Dar El Makhzen : located in the urban district El Mechouar Stinia. It is bordered by a corridor of 2 km formed by two impressive walls. It was the official palace of Moulay Ismail.
• Bab Mansour is one of the finest works of Moulay Ismail. Completed in 1732. The proportions of this door is majestic. For his ark, you get to the sumptuous buildings of the imperial city. The Bab Mansour gate is the most imposing of Morocco or even North Africa.
• Garden Lahboul : located in Medina in the urban commune Al Ismailia. It contains a zoo and an outdoor theater. The garden could be exploited in entertainment and leisure.
• Royal Golf : is part of the urban commune El Mechouar Stinia. It is housed in golf courses in 1971. It is located in the city walls of Moulay Ismail … It includes nine (9) holes. It is supposed to be the only course in the world that can be locked. Sport can be practiced at night.

Near the town are the ruins of Volubilis, main city of the west of the Roman province of Mauretania Tingitana.

Taroudant
Considered the grandmother of Marrakech, Taroudant is one of the oldest cities in Morocco. Taroudant is famous for its varied handicrafts (leatherwork, tannery, pottery, etc.) and beautiful scenery.

Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate is the starting point for hikers on foot, 4×4, mountain bike or camel … The South of Ouarzazate contains large desert areas. mountain hikes are also organized. Taourirt Kasbah, a village in the town, a World Heritage Site by Unesco, is to find out to see the culture.

Fez
Fez is the spiritual and cultural capital of Morocco. One can visit the Al Karaouine University, the oldest in the world long before Oxford and Cambridge with his Arab-Andalusian style, the medina is classified world heritage of UNESCO and around Fez spa Sidi Harazem and the Roman ruins of Volubilis.

Saidia
Saidia is a new resort and Mediterranean resort in the country, near the region of Oujda, she vows to become one of the largest resorts in the area.

Mazagan
Mazagan is a new resort, a luxurious new destination par excellence, the city lies on the Moroccan Atlantic coast near the town of El Jadida and offers diverse landscapes and exotic.

Merzouga
Merzouga is a small village located in the Saharan Morocco’s southeast 35 kilometers from Rissani and 50 kilometers from the Algerian border.

Michlifen
Michlifen is a ski resort near Ifrane in the Middle Atlas located at 1800 m altitude. The ski area consists of 5 tracks stretching from 1800 m to 2000 m altitude. It is the second ski resort after Oukaïmeden in Morocco, it is covered mid-November snow in late March.