20 Things You Didn’t Know About Marrakech’s Old City
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20 Things You Didn’t Know About Marrakech’s Old City
Hidden Facts, Forgotten Stories, and Insider Secrets from the Medina
Marrakech is known for its vibrant souks, fragrant tagines, and the famous chaos of Jemaa el-Fna. But beyond the postcard images lies something deeper — something older, more mysterious, and far more meaningful.
The Old City of Marrakech — known as the Medina — is not just a tourist attraction. It’s a 1,000-year-old living organism, full of hidden secrets, ancient rituals, and stories that most travelers never hear.
In this article, we’ll uncover the lesser-known truths about the Medina — the kind of knowledge that only a local insider like Rachid Boussalem can share after decades of walking, guiding, and living among its red walls.
Here are 20 surprising things you didn’t know about Marrakech’s Old City — each one a key to unlocking its soul.
1. The Medina Has Its Own Micro-Climates
Yes — even within Marrakech, temperatures shift between neighborhoods.
Why? Because of ancient urban design. Narrow streets, thick mudbrick walls, and shaded passageways were carefully designed to trap cool air and shield from wind and desert heat.
Insider Tip: Locals walk certain streets at specific times of day to avoid the sun — and your guide knows them all.
2. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site — But Not Just for the Buildings
Marrakech Medina was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, but not just for its architecture.
It’s honored for its intangible cultural heritage — the living traditions of craftsmanship, storytelling, music, and neighborhood life. The people, not just the walls, make this city sacred.
3. Some Alleys Are So Narrow, You Must Walk Sideways
The Medina is a maze, and some derbs (small streets) are so tight that even a bicycle can't fit through. These weren’t accidents — they were strategic defenses during times of invasion.
> Some streets are just 40 cm wide — and your guide knows where to find them.
4. There Are Over 100 Working Fountains in the Medina
Each old neighborhood once had its own public fountain, used for drinking, washing, and cooling animals.
Many still exist — some restored, some abandoned. Each has its own style, calligraphy, and legend.
5. Communal Bread Ovens Still Bake for Entire Neighborhoods
In many parts of the Medina, families don’t have ovens at home. Instead, they bring their dough daily to the communal oven, called a farran.
It’s not just baking — it’s a space for connection, gossip, and shared memory.
6. Marrakech Has an Underground Water System Called “Khettara”
Long before modern plumbing, the city used an ancient subterranean irrigation system. Known as khettara, it brought water from the High Atlas Mountains into the Medina via underground channels.
Some still function today, and a few old riads still have active wells from this system.
7. The Walls Are Made of Mud, Straw, and Lime — and They're Alive
The red walls of Marrakech are built from pisé (rammed earth) — a natural material that “breathes,” absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night.
That’s why the city stays cooler than the desert — and why the walls need regular care by skilled artisans.
8. Riads Are Designed to Hide Beauty on the Inside
From the outside, a riad looks like a blank wall. But step inside, and you’ll find a paradise of tiled courtyards, fountains, trees, and open skies.
This reflects the Islamic value of privacy and inner beauty. Real life happens behind the walls.
9. There’s an Entire Quarter for Dyers — Still Working With Indigo and Henna
The Souk des Teinturiers is where raw wool and cotton are dyed by hand using natural pigments — indigo, saffron, henna, pomegranate peel.
You’ll see yarns hanging like colorful curtains across alleyways, drying in the sun.
10. The Medina Once Had a Vibrant Jewish Quarter
Known as the Mellah, this area was home to thousands of Moroccan Jews, especially during the 16th–19th centuries.
You can still visit:
The Lazama Synagogue
The Jewish Cemetery
Silver shops and spice vendors run by old Jewish families
Rachid’s tour includes this unique and peaceful chapter of history.
11. Arabic Isn’t the Only Language Here
In the Medina, you’ll hear:
Darija (Moroccan Arabic)
Tachelhit and Tamazight (Berber languages)
French (due to colonial history)
Even Spanish and Hebrew in some quarters
And if you’re with Rachid, you may hear Japanese too — he speaks it fluently!
12. The Medina Was Built Like a Fortress
With 19 fortified gates (babs), watchtowers, and walls up to 10 meters high, the Medina was designed to withstand invaders.
Each gate has a story — some were ceremonial, others defensive.
Examples:
Bab Agnaou – the royal gate, beautifully carved
Bab Doukkala – one of the oldest and still active today
13. The Sound of Marrakech Isn’t Just the Call to Prayer
The city sings in layers:
The echo of the adhan (call to prayer)
The clink of copper in artisan shops
Footsteps on stone
Gnawa music drifting from homes
The sizzle of oil in street kitchens
This soundscape is part of what makes Marrakech unforgettable.
14. Some Streets Are Named After Crafts — and Still Hold the Same Trades
You’ll walk down Derb Sidi Bouloukat or Souk Smata and find:
Shoemakers where the street is named “Slippers”
Lantern-makers on “Souk Haddadine” (metalworkers’ market)
These streets preserve centuries-old craft lineages.
15. Marrakech Has a Sacred Sufi Heritage
Many shrines (zaouias) are hidden within the walls of the Medina. These are places where Sufi saints are buried, and they’re visited daily by locals seeking baraka (blessing).
One of the most revered is Zaouia Sidi Bel Abbes, where you can still hear Sufi chants and prayers during special nights.
16. Jemaa el-Fna Is a UNESCO Oral Heritage Site
It’s not just a square — it’s one of the world’s only living oral traditions recognized by UNESCO.
Why? Because of the storytellers, herbalists, snake charmers, and magicians who keep ancient forms of Moroccan performance alive.
17. The Medina Is Organized by Ancient Islamic Urban Design
Each neighborhood was designed with:
A mosque
A fountain
A hammam
A school (madrasa)
A baking oven
This reflects Islamic ideals of community, balance, and shared space.
18. Some Doors Are Painted to Ward Off Evil
Look closely — you’ll find blue-painted doors, hand-shaped metal knockers (khamsa), and Quranic inscriptions carved into stone.
These aren’t decoration — they’re spiritual protection used for generations.
19. Many Buildings Have No Numbers — Just Symbols or Family Names
There are no “addresses” like in Western cities. Instead, people navigate using:
Landmarks
Street corners
Family names ("You go until you see the baker named Hassan...")
This is why travelers get lost — and why a guide like Rachid is essential.
20. The Medina is Changing — But the Heart Remains
Gentrification, tourism, and real estate speculation are shifting parts of the Old City. Some riads are now luxury hotels. But many families still live in multi-generational homes, still use the same shops, and still pass down the same stories.
If you walk with the right person, you’ll see that the true Medina is alive and proud.
Why You Need a Local to Show You the Old City
Only someone who lives here — who speaks the language of the streets, of the people, of the past — can guide you beyond the surface.
With Rachid, you get:
Access to hidden places no tourist can find
Deep cultural explanation — not just facts, but meaning
Honest guidance — no commissions, no tourist traps
Personal care — pacing, breaks, tea stops, questions
A friend, not a salesperso
Ready to Discover the Side of Marrakech No One Talks About?
Whether it’s your first time in Marrakech or your fifth, the Old City still has secrets to share. Let Rachid take you to the hidden courtyards, forgotten alleyways, spiritual shrines, and artisan workshops that make this place a living masterpiece.
???? Book Your Private Walking Tour Today
Contact Rachid on WhatsApp:
+212 614 905 398 (Morocco)
Walk deeper. See more. Understand everything.
Let the real Medina reveal itself to you.
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