Morocco, Favourite for North African Winter Sun
High Atlas, Sahara, Casablanca, Marrakech, Essaouira, Ouarzazate
Oct 4, 2009
The colourful, tolerant North African Kingdom of Morocco has been attracting artists, writers, filmmakers, stars, hippies, designers, culture-lovers and famous retirees for over a century. From a brief look at Morocco’s geographical situation and cultural influences, it is easy to see why. Morocco is in the north-west corner of Africa, where the continent pushes up almost to Spain only 13 miles/20 km away across the Straits of Gibraltar, making it easily accessible from many European cities.
Morocco has a long western coastline bordering the Atlantic, and a shorter northern shore along the southern Mediterranean Sea. Only a little bigger than California, which in some ways it resembles, its 32 million people live mainly in the coastal areas, while the rest of the country is dominated by spectacular mountain ranges or dramatic stretches of desert.
The Rif Mountains behind the north coastal plain, the Atlas ranges including the snow-capped High Atlas in the centre and south, and the stretches of untamed Sahara desert in the south-east of Morocco combine to offer an enormous variety of scenery. Along with all this comes a climatic range from Mediterranean to warm desert and semi-desert, making Morocco very attractive to Europeans in search of sun and exotic cultures all year round, but especially during the winter months.
Morocco’s Early Cultural Influences
Because of its geographical position, with Arab countries to the east, Mediterranean Europe to the north and sub-Saharan Africa to the south, Morocco has been open to many cultural influences in its long history. Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans all left their mark, particularly in the coastal areas, leaving the mountains and desert to the Berber people. Then, in the 7th century, waves of Arab invaders brought Islam and the Arabic language to the whole of North Africa.
Dominant Arab and French Cultural Influences in Morocco Today
- The form of Islam practiced in Morocco is Sunni, which is traditionally tolerant and open to ideas from other cultures.
- Arab rule established powerful, wealthy states (caliphates) along the coast, based on trade (often involving piracy and slavery) with the Middle East and sub-Saharan West Africa.
- These states encouraged fine architecture and craftsmanship, and in the case of Morocco the most powerful state evolved into a monarchy.
- The Kingdom of Morocco became a protectorate of France in 1912, and did not regain its independence until 1956,
- French influence can be seen in the retention of French as Morocco’s second language, the increasing use of the euro as well as Morocco’s own currency, the dirham, and many cultural ties with France.
Morocco’s Attractions for Artists, Writers, Designers and Filmmakers
- With the coming of French rule at the end of the 19th century, people with chest or skin complaints sought out its mild winter climate, mountain air and bright sunlight.
- Artists and designers appreciated the quality of the light, high standards of traditional architecture and fine craftsmanship using bright colours and bold abstract designs.
- Writers found they could live cheaply and well, stimulated by the mixing of cultures and a new-found freedom to express themselves.
- Colourful and atmospheric towns such as Casablanca, Marrakesh (also Marrakech) and Fez put Morocco on the Hippie Trail in the 1960s, with Marrakech Express becoming an international hit, while Jimi Hendrix loved surfing in Essaouira.
Artists, Writers and Designers Inspired by Morocco
Paul Bowles, The Sheltering Sky (book and film), William Burroughs, Jacques Majorelle and couturier Yves Saint Laurent all found inspiration in Morocco. In his retirement, Sir Winston Churchill wintered in Marrakech and loved to paint local scenes.
Some Films, Stars and Film Directors Using Morocco Locations
- Orson Wells - Essaouira Citadel for Othello.
- Ridley Scott – Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou for Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven
- Oliver Stone – Gardens of El Mamounia Hotel, and Marrakech foothills of the Atlas for Alexander.
- David Lean – Ait Benhaddou near Ouarzazate for some Lawrence of Arabia desert scenes.
- The Living Daylights (featuring 007 himself), The Man Who Knew Too Much (Alfred Hitchcock) Jewel of the Nile and The Last Days of Sodom and Gomorrah all used Moroccan locations.
Great strides are being made by the Moroccan government to attract a wide range of visitors, including improving roads, tourist facilities and safety, cleaning up markets and urban areas, co-ordinating new building and hotel design and supporting Atlas mountain sports, walking and High Atlas ski resorts.
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