If you decided to open this article, it means you’d like to learn more about Morocco—but you don’t want to stop at just the historical and cultural facts.
Sometimes, in fact, it’s also nice to discover a country’s curiosities, so you can appreciate it even more and get a better feel for how it works!
That’s why we’ve put together a ranking of the seven most interesting curiosities about Morocco.
Curious facts about Morocco you (probably) didn’t know
#1 Morocco, also known as the Land of the Berbers
Morocco is also known as the Land of the Berbers, because about 40% of the population is made up of—exactly—Berbers. Did you know that?!
Descendants of Morocco’s earliest inhabitants, the Berbers have a vibrant culture deeply connected to nature. A good number of them prefer to live in the harshest possible conditions, such as in the High Atlas Mountains or in the Sahara Desert.
Some Berber women have heavily tattooed faces and necks. This is an ancient tradition, originally used for tribal identification.
#2 In Morocco, there’s a valley dedicated to roses
The M’Goun Valley in Morocco is also known as the Vallée des Roses: just think, every year it produces between 3,000 and 4,000 tons of wild roses. Basically, the most fragrant valley on the planet.
As you can imagine, these roses are important to the local economy, because they are sold to cooperatives in the region.
Most of these roses are in fact used by French perfume companies, while the rest are used by local businesses to produce rose water, soaps, and other beauty products.
#3 Morocco has the largest film studio in the world
Did you know that countless films have been shot in Morocco?!
In fact, Atlas Studios, located 6 km from Ouarzazate, is the largest film studio in the world. Famous productions such as Gladiator, The Mummy, some episodes of Game of Thrones, and Prison Break, among others, were filmed here.
Why do producers choose to film in Morocco rather than in other countries?
Certainly because of the excellent weather conditions, the possibility of recreating the natural settings of many countries in the region, and, of course, because it is much more affordable.
#4 It is also home to the oldest university in the world
This is a little gem we’re fairly sure not many people know…
You should know that the oldest university in the world is located in Morocco. More precisely, in the city of Fez. It is the University of al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri, the daughter of a powerful merchant.
Founded within the mosque of the same name, it is still used as a madrasa and is the oldest recorded institution of higher learning.
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#5 Sultan Alaouite Moulay Ismail Ben Cherif had 888 children conceived with his more than 550 wives and over 4,000 concubines
All of his children were boys, because if a girl was born, he ordered her to be strangled—yes, really.
Of all his children, only 32 had princely rights, and some of them, the most impatient ones, ordered rebellions to kill their father and take the throne, which never happened.
#6 The left hand is considered impure
The left hand is considered impure because it is used for intimate hygiene. This is something to keep in mind when greeting people and especially when eating.
Remember that in Morocco people often eat with their hands, so the left hand should be avoided as much as possible. A real nightmare for left-handed people.
#7 In Morocco there is a blue city… and a red one
One of the most beautiful cities in Morocco—and also one of the most popular with tourists—is the blue city of Chefchaouen.
Chefchaouen is known as the Blue Pearl of Morocco because the entire medina and much of the mountain town are painted light blue. In fact, strolling through and photographing the medina is one of the most popular things to do in Chefchaouen.
Just as Chefchaouen is known as the “blue city,” the city of Marrakech is called the “red city.” But unlike Chefchaouen, Marrakech’s walls were not deliberately painted red. Instead, the reddish hue comes from the clay and red sandstone used to build many of Marrakech’s ancient buildings.
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Conclusions
In this article, we talked about some interesting facts about Morocco that you probably didn’t know.
Oh, by the way, did you know that we’ve organized a tour that actually stops in this country?!
Come on, we know we’ve made you curious. Take a look at this link. Boom! If you decide to travel with us, all you’ll need to do is choose the date and your departure airport.
