Under Abderrahmane (1822-1859) Morocco fell under the influence of the European powers. When Morocco supported the Algerian independence movement of the Emir Abd al-Qadir, it was heavily defeated by the French in 1844 and made to abandon its support.

From Muhammad IV (1859-1873) and Hassan I (1873-1894) the Alaouites tried to foster trading links, above all with European countries and the United States. The army and administration were also modernised, to improve control over the Berber and Bedouin tribes. With the war against Spain (1859-1860) came direct involvement in European affairs - although the independence of Morocco was guaranteed in the Conference of Madrid (1880), the French gained ever greater influence. German attempts to counter this growing influence led to the First Moroccan Crisis of 1905-1906 and the Second Moroccan Crisis (1911.) Eventually the Moroccans were forced to recognise the French Protectorate on December 3, 1912. At the same time the Rif area of northern Morocco was given up to Spain.

La Menara - Marrakech

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Menara gardens are 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 menara term has been added after the present structure (the pavillon) was founded in the 19th century by the Alaouite ruler Abderrahmane of Morocco where he used to stay in summertime.

The gardens contain a pavilion and a basin (an artificial lake) surrounded by orchards and olive groves. The intention of the basin was to irrigate the surrounding gardens and orchards using a sophisticated system called Qanat. The basin is supplied with water thanks to an old hydraulic system which conveys water from the mountains located at 30 km approximately away from Marrakech.

Bahia Palace - Marrakech

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The Bahia Palace is a palace and a set of gardens located in Marrakech. It was built in the late 19th century, intended to be the greatest palace of its time. The name means 'brilliance'. As in other buildings of the period in other countries, it was intended to capture the essence of the Islamic and Moroccan style. There is a 2 acre (8,000 m²) garden with rooms opening onto courtyards.

Set up at the end of XIXth century by Si Moussa, grand vizier of the sultan, for his personal use, this palace would bear the name of one of his wives. Here, the harem, which includes a vast court decorated with a central basin and surrounded by rooms intended for the concubines. As the black slave Abu Ahmed rose to power and wealth towards the end of the 19th century, he had the Bahia palace built by bringing in craftsmen from Fez. The structures tell a lot about the taste of the nouveau-riche of its time, and can appear vulgar to modern tastes. It was intended to become the greatest palace of its time, but it is really dominated by hasty planning as well as uninspired detail work. This doesn't make the palace less worth visiting, it is a monument of its time, and served even as the residence of the French resident general, Lyautey.

Bahia Palace - Marrakech

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Bahia Palace - Marrakech

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Bahia Palace - Marrakech

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Bahia Palace - Marrakech

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the bahia palace, is very nice, and the photographs are splendid, thanks.

The Alaouite Palace, fez

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Inside a Mosque

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