The Tourist Guide
Of
Casablanca
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By Travel in Morocco©
http://www.travel-in-morocco.com
Casablanca
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Economic capital in the prodigious
development, international metropolis the development of which is inseparable
of the harbour activity, Casablanca dresses a major importance for the
business world today. Trading town and industrial city, Casablanca takes
its true spiritual dimension with the mosque Hassan II, one of the most
beautiful to the world today. The last fleuron of the most modern city of the Realm, the Big Mosque Hassan II raises itself, majestic, between sky and sea. A divine nef, with a room of prayer of a volume of 25.000 believers and an esplanade of 80.000. This religious jewel establishes doubtless a subtle mixture of the Moroccan traditional architecture and the most sophisticated technology.
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Anfa them got in touch with Europe and allowed them to export the excess of their production of cereal, wool, skins, wax of bee and oil. In the modern time, while keeping some recollections (general stores, souks, ramparts hiding the ancient Medina, the mosques, marabouts, of whom that of Sidi Abderrahman, the most frequented sanctuary), Casablanca is just like a whole Realm which advances in big steps on the road of the progress and the modernism.
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The Ledge, which lives in the intimacy
with the Atlantic Ocean, is a part of these places where one comes to
seal its thirst, to have a quick dip feet in the water or to vibrate
at the rate of a music in one of the numerous luxury dance halls. Should
I remind that Casablanca was the théatre of several historic meetings
which influenced the fate of the world? It is in Casablanca, indeed,
in 1943 , that fire Her Majesty Mohammed V, accompanied with Her Majesty
Hassan II, then young Crown prince, received the three big bosses of
State of the free world, Churchill, Roosevelt and De Gaulle, on the
occasion of the conference of Anfa. |
To visit :
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The mosque Hassan II
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Conceived by the French architect
Michel Pinseau, the mosque Hassan II looks like in majestic one vessel
moored to the doors of the ocean. Finished in 1993, the mosque is the
biggest religious building to the world after the mosque of Mecca. A little
more than 100 000 believers(regular customers) can come to pray there
(25 000 in the mosque and 80 000 on the immense esplanade). The monument
also shelters a médersa, a library, a national museum and vast lecture
halls. The best Moroccan artisans participated in the magnificent internal
decoration of the building : frescoes, zelliges, arabesques, stuccos and
beautiful sculptured wood testify of the talent of these artists ! At
the top of the minaret 200 metres high, two lasers of a reach of 30 km
are permanently steered towards Mecca. To finance this masterpiece of
the Islamic art, the government made a national signature; the happy givers
received in exchange a diploma ! |
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She is situated in some steps
of the place of the United Nations. Sheltered in the shade of sober
ramparts, streaked with sinuous alleys where get involved curious onlookers
and artisans, this ancient medina offers a surprising contrast with
the architecture of the quite close new city. During the walk, one discovers
sanctuaries, mosques without forgetting the Spanish church Buenaventura,
the sqala, and charming him Sidi Bou Smara's public garden with his
marabout and his graves aligned under a banian fig tree. The district
visits in the daytime, the night can be the occasion of bad meetings! |
The port
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Conceived in 1907 and imposed by the Resident General Lyautey against the opinion of all the "offices", the port of Casa did not stop developing. Become the economic heart of the city, it extends over more than 180 ha today. Protected from the swell by the " pier Moulay-Youssef " long 3 180 m, the port includes several ponds, shipyards, harbour station, pleasure port, and the post offices of loading of ferries and passenger ships of tourism. Second port of the Maghreb, he assures about 70 % of the national sea traffic. Attention ! Only the pond of the Tourism is accessible. To visit the other sites, a license emanating from the Maritime District is necessary. |
The ancient Mahakma of the Pacha
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Not far from the Royal Palace is the ancient Moslem court
and reception room of the Pasha of Casablanca. Finished in 1952, the
building possesses more than sixty rooms decorated with sculptured wooden
ceilings, by stuccos, by stone floors of earthenware and railings of
wrought iron. It is the seat of one of seven prefectures of " today
Big Accommodated ". . |
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Buildings Art-déco
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In the " crazy years ", to face the increase of the population
of Casablanca, the general Lyautey decided to build a new city. The
set should ally modernity and Moroccan architectural traditions. So,
from 1920 till 1935, under the watchful eye of the town planner Henri
Prost, a multitude of buildings and villas mixing the styles déco and
neo-Moresque art appeared from earth. Today, one can again admire the
magnificent facades of these buildings(ships) (colonnades, pediments,
wooden balconies of cedar, zelliges, stuccos, ironworks...). Route:
avenue Hassan II , boulevard El Meskini and boulevard Mohammed V. |
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The new medina or the district
of Habbous
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The new medina, collectively called district of Habbous, arose
from the plan of town planning begun by the General Lyautey in the 20s.
First of all intended to accommodate the rural population come to look
for an employment in Casablanca, the new medina was quickly taken by
assault by the easy families of the city attracted by the charms of
an alliance made a success between tradition and modern town planning.
It is true that with its picturesque alleys, its small places, its stony
arches and its traditional workshops, the new medina is a very authentic
place. It is in this district which one finds the famous Bennis cake
shop, known for its delicious delicacies ! ! |
Sélection of Hotels :
Casablanca Appart'hotel
Kenzi Basma
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New establishment, of contemporary invoice, its conception is directed to the functional and the comfort. Studios and apartments completely equipped with all the hotel services. Rates from 266 € to 600 € the week. E-mail
: info@residence-casablanca.ma
Site : http://www.residence-casablanca.ma
Being
situated in full centre of the economic capital and just a step from
the strategic points of the town centre, in 5 minutes of the station
ONCF, and in 30 minutes of the international Mohamed V airport. Completely
renewed in 1999, the BASMA hotel offers to the clientele of business
or tourism of the quality services. Avenue Moulay Hassan 1er - Casablanca |
Royal Mansour Méridien
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Since 1952, " Royal Mansour Méridien "
offers an unique service, combining the charm of a big European hotel,
with the legendary tradition of the Moroccan hospitality. The hotel
is ideally placed in the heart of the city near the main shops, near
the shopping center and near the all over the world reappointed Mosque
Hassan II. In some minutes, you are in the old woman medina and in the
port. 27
Avenue Des F.A.R. Casablanca, Morocco Phone :+ 212 22 313 011 Fax: +
212 22 295 508 Site : http:/www.lemeridien.com/ |
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