What To See and Do in Magical Marrakech, Morocco
The Moroccan capital has long been a magnet for bohemians, but thanks to a modernizing monarch, it’s now attracting some seriously luxurious investment
The Red City, named for its rose-colored palaces and labyrinthine alleyways, has always had a scattering of stardust and glamour. Marrakech has attracted and inspired flamboyant artists, wealthy bohemians, and the jet-set for the past century, from the likes of Yves Saint Laurent and Marc Jacobs, to rock royalty, such as Jade Jagger, and nobility including the Emir of Qatar. From ornate riads in the Medina in the heart of the city to large, modern, luxurious villas hidden among olive groves on roads leading to the Atlas Mountains, there are homes of extraordinary design to be found.
After a frenetic boom from 2004 to 2008, when property prices rose by more than 250 per cent, Marrakech’s property market has calmed. But in 2011, despite the global recession, the prices of prime properties continued to increase – an uptick that has carried on. “This increase is proof,” says Marc Leon, managing director of Kensington Finest Properties Marrakech, an exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, “that the city remains a hotspot for the well-heeled.”
A VERY MODERN APPROACH
Much of the recent stability and high-end investment is thanks to King Mohammed VI, a powerful, modernizing monarch who has worked hard to encourage tourism in Marrakech. His aim is to double visitors to 18 million by 2020 and place Morocco in the top 20 global tourism destinations. In 2012 it sat at number 25. In 2015, according to a recent Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice survey, it is number one thanks to a well-executed emphasis on quality and high-end service.
An ambitious road-building program is under way and super-luxe hotel chains have arrived, including Four Seasons and Aman, with Taj Palace and The Pearl Marrakech having opened in fall 2012, and Mandarin Oriental in 2014. In the wake of this luxury development and influx of luxury hotel, restaurant, golf, and spa brands, a smart set of international property buyers has followed, lured by a step-change in levels of quality and service, and amenities such as a new international airport and increased flight routes, improving accessibility.
The city’s easy-going, stylish, bohemian-chic lifestyle has a clear appeal for overseas home buyers. It is a place of extraordinary sights. From the snake charmers of the Djemaa el-Fna town square and the richly colored piles of saffron and cumin in the spice souk, to the lavish five-star hotels and the modern shopping malls, Marrakech provides a heady mix of old and new.
The Palmeraie is an exclusive oasis of gardens eight miles to the northeast of Marrakech. It is the ideal antidote to the chaos of the Medina, complete with a Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course, boutique hotels, and large, fully serviced villas. There are plenty of contrasts away from the city too. One hour away, the Ouïrgane Valley is a wide landscape of ancient Berber villages, while just 50 minutes away there is skiing at Oukaïmeden. If surfing is more your style, within two hours you can reach the sandy beaches in Essaouria.
PALATIAL PROPERTIES
“There are some incredible examples of the level of investment,” says Leon. For example, the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, is building a sensational property in the Palmeraie, while nearby in Bab Atlas, the Emir of Qatar spent more than €50 million ($63.01m) on a holiday home.
“The majority of interest is in the Palmeraie area,” says Leon. “Hivernage and Gueliz are also popular parts of the city for buyers, while there is now little demand to buy in the Medina itself. Our clients also look to buy land to construct their own villas as there is not enough stock on the market.”
The level of craftsmanship in Marrakech is exceptional, and owning a house there provides the perfect excuse to scour the souks for treasures. But modern architecture also has a place in the city. Five miles from the center is a property that wouldn’t look out of place sited on a Californian beach. Designed by Philippe Starck protégé Imaad Rahmouni, it has six bedrooms, including a three-bedroom guesthouse in its 4.9-acre grounds.
This city, with its young-at-heart vibe and French-African accent, has something to suit all palates.
