Marrakech Travel Guide

6, Derb Chorfa El kebir - Mouassine
Médina, Marrakesh
Morocco
Tel: (+212) 24 44 30 05
http://www.riadchorfa.com

Jean Bernard, an architect from Montpellier, welcomes you to his house. Located in the middle of the medina and 4min walk from the Djema El Fna Square and the many souks. The riad was renewed, but has its Moorish style. The rooms are beautifully decorated, each with a different style. On the beautiful courtyard with fountain, you can relax and from the terraces boasts spectacular views over the Palace of the Pacha, the Koutoubia Mosque and the Atlas Mountains. The outbuilding Dar Isshan makes with his 5 rooms this riad complete.

Location
This hotel is located in Marrakech in the city centre and 15km from the airport Marrakech.

Facilities
TV lounge - room service (paying) - babysitting (on the application and paying) - laundry service (paying) - Internet (paying).

Meals
Restaurant.

Rooms
All rooms are equipped with bath or shower and toilet - Type 2A: standard 2p - bath or shower - toilet - Type 1A: press 1. a standard room (the same as type 2A).

This is a gay friendly riad

Derb Moullay Abdullah Ben Hezzian
Bab El Ksour, Medina
Marrakech, Maroc
Tel: (+212) 2444 1210, (+212) 2444 1220
Fax: (+212) 2444 1211

http://www.riadelfenn.com

Riad El Fenn is a large riad town house situated a few metres down a little derb, close to the bab el ksour in the street of the palaces and only five minutes walk from the main square, Jemma el Fna. the house was originally built like a fortress, the ancient walls are over a metre thick, all sound of the bustling medina is shut out, and you enter a building of beauty and peace.

The house was bought in the summer of 2002 and we set about creating riad el fenn - aware of our obligation to restore a house of such historical importance to the highest of standards we have given every stage of the restoration love and attention. all materials are natural, all locally sourced and all put in place by the wonderful local craftsmen.

Riad El Fenn has so much more to offer. we have 2 resident estheticians, there are 2 massage and treatment rooms, a hammam with a cool water bath which fits up to 4 people, one 8,5 m and one 12 m long swimming pool made with carrara marble, both equiped with a powerful jet to swim against the current, a little resting lounge to use after the hammam or to have your nails done, the screening room with a digital projector and an 8 ft screen to watch dvds and numerous quiet corners of the roof terrace to practice yoga.

This is a gay friendly riad

Address: 20, rue Ibn Aicha, Marrakesh
Phone: (+212)(0)24 43  9031

The Cuban-themed surrounds and sounds of Montecristo, complete with Che Guevara portraits. This latin/salsa club is a popular spot with fine drinks, DJ music and live bands. To beat the heat of the dance floorhead to the gorgeous roof terrace.

Majorelle Gardens and Museum of Islamic Art: In the 1920s the French artist Jacques Majorelle had it made, complete with pools, banana trees, coconut palms, and houses in a fantastic dark blue colour. The wonderful garden is alive with the sound of birds, its incredible cacti standing out in sharp contrast against the blue facade of the villa. The gardens have later been taken good care of by the French couturier Yves Saint-Laurent, who added a private museum of North African artefacts and a collection of Islamic art.

The museum and gardens are shut for lunch for a couple of hours (12-2). You cannot take any photographs inside the museum.

Menara Gardens: Located at the west of Marrakech, Morocco at the gates of the Atlas mountains. They were built in the 12th century (c. 1130) by the Almohad ruler Abd al-Mu’min.

The name menara term derives from the pavillon with it small green, piramid roof (menzeh). The pavilion was built by the 16th century Saadi dynasty and renovated in 1869 by sultan Abderrahmane of Morocco who used to stay here in summertime.

The Menara gardens offers not only a pleasant escape from roaming Marrakech, it also has one of the most photographed settings of Morocco. So what is this place actually? It is designed as a summer escape- remember that Marrakech is like an oven through mid-summer- with both orchards and olive groves.