History and traditions Useful information

Traditional hotels

As there’s no international classification of hotels, star-rating system is not applicable to Morocco. I would advise you to pay attention at traditional types of accommodation: riads, kasbahs, ksars etc. Of course you may choose any worldwide hotel chains but they won’t bring you so close to Moroccan culture.

Two main common traits of traditional guesthouses are Moroccan-style decoration and inner yard, that helps women to hide from the eyes of strangers. Actually it depends on the owner, how he will name his type of accommodation. The same type of building may have a different name.

Contents:

Riad
Kasbah and ksar
Berber houses in desert
Private guesthouses

Riad

2 or more storied house of a wealthy merchant. Usually riad is located in historical centre of a city. The inner yard (atrium) often has a roof. There’s definitely a fountain in the middle, a small garden (or some trees in pots) and mosaic tiles. Depending on cost riad may be modestly or richly decorated.

Atrium of riad — Atrium (inner yard) of riad

Smaller atrium in riad — In this riad atrium is much smaller, Essaouira

Light well over reception — But it has a function of a light well and gives some light to the reception desk located on the groundfloor

Room of riad in Essaouira — A room of riad in Essaouira

Stairway in Moroccan riad — Staircase of riad. There are no elevators in riads, kasbahs or ksars

Kasbah and ksar

It’s hard to find a difference between these 2 kinds. Both refer to a settlement that is surrounded with a fortified wall. Buildings inside of it border on each other.

As a guesthouse a kasbah is a small square castle made of rammed earth. There are towers on every corner. Ksar is a fortress made of adobes with several buildings on its territory. Ksars are usually located in rural area, while kasbahs – outside a city (town). If one surrounds several kasbahs with a fortified wall, they become a ksar.

Kasbah in Kelaat M'Gouna valley — Typical shape of a Moroccan kasbah

2 kasbahs: ruined and restored — 2 kasbahs next to each other – one is ruined, the 2d was restored to be a hotel in rose valley

Paintings in kasbah inner yard — Inner yard of this kasbah is decorated with paintings of the owners

Modern paintings in Moroccan kasbah — Modern-style paintings in this kasbah are everywhere. Of course most of kasbahs will have more traditional decoration, but modern art sets this one kasbah off the other

Berber houses in desert

In Merzouga you will see one- and two-storied private houses that are build in shapes of circle, infinity etc. that surround inner yards. All the streets look the same. The difference hides inside.

For example, «Chez Youssef» hotel – one-storied building erected with the use of traditional technologies and materials – clay, straw, wooden beams and ceilings covered with cane. There are 2 inner yards. Guests can ascend the roof to take a look at Erg Chebbi and the bigger yard with a palm tree. Despite of it the hotel is modern – new beds, air-conditioners and wi-fi.

Inner yard of Moroccan guesthouse — A view from a rooftop to the inner yard of Chez Youssef guesthouse

Inner yard — The number and the size of windows that look to the inner yard are bigger

Table and swing in the inner yard — Inner yard also plays a role of a restaurant. There’s also a restaurant in a room – to hide guests from sand (during sandstorms) and heat

Lounge with fireplace — A lounge with a fireplace

A window in Chez Youssef guesthouse — Owners of any desert hotel try to make an oasis in their yards

Guesthouses

Some of guesthouses can offer you some cultural experience too. For example this private hotel in Agadir gives you a possibility to admire stone-carved ceiling in the lounge. Not every historical building has such a ceiling.