Heritage & Environment

Morocco has a tremendously varied landscape as well as a rich cultural heritage, thanks to the mix of Berber, Arabic and Jewish influences.

 

Architecture

You will see and can stay in simple earth Berber houses which almost grow out of the hillside, splendid former palaces of the wealthy with their beautiful tiling, fabrics, rugs, lanterns and wonderful courtyard gardens, kasbahs (fortified houses) or stylish restored riads (family houses arranged around a courtyard). In addition, there are spectacular ruins of Berber castles (agadirs), Roman ruins, town walls, mosques and various public buildings dating back over many centuries - Morocco has a very rich history.

Art

For artists, the colourful scenes, the intense light and the wonderful climate are great attractions. Essaouira is the town best known for its artists although Morocco has attracted many artists past and present, including Henri Matisse and Eugene Delacroix and Winston Churchill.

There are several sites for Neolithic rock engravings and a wonderful variety of pottery is available, from the simple to the ornate, amongst which Fez and Safi are well known centres for production.

Geography & Geology

It is the striking contrasts between the geology, landscape, economic & cultural geography within the area that often attracts visitors to Morocco

Whether you are on holiday or studying these subjects, you can't help but be struck by what you see around you and your friends or family.

 

Language

A few words go a long way! In Morocco the dominant language is Arabic, although Berber is spoken in some areas and French and Spanish (in the north) are also understood in many tourist places.

 

Music

Traditional music and rhythm are very much part of everyday life and all celebrations and even at any weekly market. There is a wide variety of musical traditions (much more so than in the rest of North Africa): Berber, Arab, Andalucian, Gnaoua, Sephardic & Rai, all of which remain strong today and have been fused and blended with Western styles in contemporary music.

The best known Music Festivals are the Gnaoua Festival in Essaouira in June, the Festival of Sacred Music in Fez in May and the Marrakech Festival in June. There are many unusual musical instruments too. 

Theatre and Dance

Moroccans are amongst the most theatrical in the world. The best place to see street theatre (storytellers, mimes, acrobats, musicians and dancers) is in Marrakech at Djemaa el Fna. In August in particular you will see (and may be invited to join in with) a great deal of dancing at Moroccan weddings.