Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Part of the Douiria's ongoing restoration will be undertaken in public view (groups will
be limited to 25 people at a time) as part of the museum's efforts to showcase modern res-
toration techniques. A sequence of fascinating photographs details each step of the jour-
ney, which is momentous enough to appear as part of the curriculum of the École
d'Architecture de Marrakech introducing students to the concept of patrimony. Beyond
that the space will be utilised for exceptional temporary exhibitions focusing on the very
best examples of Islamic art and craftsmanship. And with patrons like Xavier Salmon
from the Louvre, they promise to be as exquisite as the apartment itself.
FOUNTAIN
Mouassine Fountain
( Rue Sidi el-Yamani)
The medina had 80 fountains at the start of the 20th century, and each
neighbourhood had its own for cooking, public baths, orchards and gardens. The Mou-
assine Fountain, near Rue el-Mouassine, is a prime example, with carved wood details
and continued use as a neighbourhood wool-drying area and gossip source.
Funduqs
( 9am-7pm)
Since medieval times, these creative courtyard complexes featured ground-
floor stables and workshops and rented rooms for desert traders and merchants upstairs -
and from this flux of artisans and adventurers emerged the inventive culture of modern-
day Marrakesh. Only 140
funduqs
remain in the medina, many of them now converted in-
to artisan complexes, and although you'll find them in various states of disrepair, many re-
tain fine original woodcarving, romantic balconies and even some stuccowork.
You'll find notable examples near Pl Bab Fteuh, along Rue Amesfah (Dar Bellarj is a
converted
funduq
) and a cluster at the
junction
of Rue el-Mouassine and Rue Dar el-
Bacha, including one featured in the film
Hideous Kinky
.
HISTORICAL BUILDINGS
Dar Bellarj
GALLERY
( 0524 44 45 55;
www.darbellarj.org
; 9-7 Toualate Zaouiate Lahdar; 9.30am-12.30pm & 2-5.30pm
Mon-Sat)
Flights of fancy come with the territory at Dar Bellarj, a stork hospital (
bellarj
is Arabic for stork) turned into Marrakesh's premier arts centre. Each year the non-
profit Dar Bellarj Foundation adopts a program theme, ranging from film to women's tex-
tiles and storytelling. Calligraphy demonstrations, art openings, craft exhibits and arts
