THE PALMERAY

The Palmeraie is perceived today as a luxury area, with beautiful hotels, luxury residences and several golf courses. It was once the jewel of Marrakech, a veritable oasis of greenery in stark contrast to the ochre hues of the imperial city. Although little remains of the luxuriant vegetation that once stretched at the foot of the city, the visit retains a certain charm and offers beautiful views at sunset. 150,000 palm trees still populate the 13,000 ha of the palm grove, but very sparsely, between the crops of market garden produce, wheat, barley or corn and the enclosures with adobe walls. In the past, the palm grove was supplied with water by the system of khettaras, an ingenious technique of Persian origin. These open-air wells, connected by kilometres of pipes, brought the water from the water table to ground level, on a gentle slope patiently dug by thousands of well-diggers to the nearby mountains. The system was inaugurated by the Almoravid sultans, founders of Marrakesh and the palm grove. Although it functioned as well as it could in the 11th century, it is more than uncertain today, as most of the 350 khettaras that have survived are more than 80% dry. Irrigation has now become a major problem and this is visible. An association, the Observatory of the Palm Grove, was created in 2006 to safeguard (and develop) the palm grove of Marrakech. In addition to environmental awareness and education campaigns, one of its main objectives is to replant 430,000 date palms in the next 10 years.

The most pleasant way to visit the Palmeraie (and the most romantic) is to go there by horse-drawn carriage, at the end of the afternoon. Two hours will be enough to make the trip from Jemaâ el Fna to the Palmeraie Golf Palace Hotel for example, and walk in the always mystical atmosphere of the palm trees. If you have less time, the taxi drivers offer you a smaller circuit whose rate is displayed on the windscreen. It is also marked out in order to preserve the site. Spring is favourable to the observation of migratory birds, such as storks coming down from their perches, which come to feed or spend the night near the water reserves of certain golf courses. On site, you can also opt for a camel ride, for a breath of fresh air and meet your spirit of adventure between nature and the surrounding desert!