Taza
Encyclopedia
Taza is a city in northern Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...

, which occupies the corridor between the Rif
Rif
The Rif or Riff is a mainly mountainous region of northern Morocco, with some fertile plains, stretching from Cape Spartel and Tangier in the west to Ras Kebdana and the Melwiyya River in the east, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the river of Wergha in the south.It is part of the...

 mountians and Middle Atlas mountains, about 120 km east of Fez. It is located at 150 km from Nador
Nador
Nador is a city located in the northeastern Rif region of Morocco. The city is a Mediterranean port on the Bḥar Ameẓẓyan lagoon , and it is the major trading center in the region for fish, fruit, and livestock...

, and 210 km from Oujda (east). It has a population of 144,000 (2004 census) and is the capital of Taza province.

Geography

Taza city, north-central Morocco. Located in the south of the Rif
Rif
The Rif or Riff is a mainly mountainous region of northern Morocco, with some fertile plains, stretching from Cape Spartel and Tangier in the west to Ras Kebdana and the Melwiyya River in the east, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the river of Wergha in the south.It is part of the...

 region right outside the moutain range on a narrow plain. The city is composed of two formerly separate towns built on separate terraces overlooking a mountain valley. The old-Taza town is at an elevation of 1,919 feet (585 m) above sea level and is surrounded by fortifications; the newer town, established by the French in 1920, is located in a fertile plain at an elevation of 1,460 feet (445 m). Fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...

 remains indicate that caves in the area were inhabited as early as the Paleolithic Period.

The city is located in a mountain pass known as the "Taza Gap", through which successive waves of invaders moved westward onto the Atlantic coastal plains of northwestern Africa. Taza was founded by Miknasa
Miknasa
The Miknasa were a Berber tribe in Morocco and western Algeria.The Miknasa Berbers originated in southern Tunisia, but migrated westwards into central Morocco and western Algeria in pre-Islamic times. The modern Moroccan city of Meknes bears witness to their presence.After defeat by the Muslims...

 (imeknasen) Berbers
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...

. The Almoravid Berber empire took over Taza in 1074. They were replaced by the Almohad Berber empire in 1132. In 1248 the city was captured by the Marinids. Although Taza barred the route of Turks from Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...

 seeking conquest in what is now Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...

, it fell to the French in 1914. The old town has barbican monuments, mosques, and a 14th-century mderasa (Berber Koranic school). Population in 1982 stood at 77,216. Population now estimated about 144,000.

Climate

Located along the Atlas Mountains, Taza has a seasonal climate, shifting from cool in winter to hot days in the summer months. The nights are always cool (colder in winter), with daytime temperatures generally rising about +9~14 C° (15~26 F°) every day. The winter highs typically reach only 14.5°C (58°F) in December–January (see weather-table below).

Sights

The old town's main thoroughfare is enlivened by the Grain Market and the Souk
Souk
A souq is a commercial quarter in an Arab, Berber, and increasingly European city. The term is often used to designate the market in any Arabized or Muslim city, but in modern times it appears in Western cities too...

s where wickerwork, tapestries, jewlery, and a great variety of Berber handiwork from the mountains are offered for sale. The road terminates at a square doubling as a parade ground which sports the Al-Andalous Mosque. The Mosque's minaret, constructed in the 14th century, is wider at the top than at its base.
Bab el-Qebbour Street crosses the Kissaria (covered marketplace), then leads on to the Market Mosque where it meets up with Bab Jamaa gate, the main point of entry of Taza. Somewhat further south, across from Bab el-Rih, the Wind Gate, a bastion dating from the 16th century closes the ring around the kasbah
Kasbah
A kasbah or qassabah is a type of medina, Islamic city, or fortress .It was a place for the local leader to live and a defense when a city was under attack. A kasbah has high walls, usually without windows. Sometimes, they were built on hilltops so that they could be more easily defended...

. Taza's city walls, raised in the 12th century and frequently enlarged on later occasions were equipped with a Borj or fortified tower 26 metres (85 ft) wide at the base by the Saadi
Saadi Dynasty
The Saadi dynasty of Morocco , began with the reign of Sultan Mohammed ash-Sheikh in 1554, when he vanquished the last Wattasids at the Battle of Tadla....

 Ahmed el-Mansour
Ahmad I al-Mansur Saadi
Ahmad I al-Mansur was Sultan of the Saadi dynasty from 1578 to his death in 1603, the sixth and most famous of all rulers of the Saadis. He was the fifth son of Mohammed ash-Sheikh who was the first Saadi sultan of Morocco...

 in the 16th century. The gate with iron grate and the casemate
Casemate
A casemate, sometimes rendered casement, is a fortified gun emplacement or armored structure from which guns are fired. originally a vaulted chamber in a fortress.-Origin of the term:...

s with terraced roofs are clearly influenced by European military architecture of the time.

Taza tete, also known as the new village, boasts the headquarters of the Taza province Artizana which is open to the public on weekdays during regular business hours. Although it's quiet facade alludes most travelers, those lucky enough to wander in are treated to the sights of traditional Beni Ouaren rugs being constructed on looms and experienced hand embroiderers at work. The women are extremely welcoming and enjoy showing off their handicrafts to foreigners. The Artizana is located between the small everyday souk (sweka) and Bank Al Maghribi. Ask a petit taxi driver to drop you at the Bank Al Maghribi and it is but a short walk up the hill and to the left.

Topology

The topology of the area has imposed a pattern of urban spread. Viewed from above, the city takes the form of a "T". It has its root in Taza high and stretches north to reach the bed of the Oued Larbaâ. Since the urban stretches east and west along the N6 between Fez and Oujda.

At the dawn of independence, the city consisted of the Medina High Taza, the European district occupying almost hill called "No Adrar Illouz. People usually pronounce Draâ louz. This area became the center of town, and finally the station area a few kilometers below.

During the following years (60s, 70s) districts have emerged, midway between downtown and the train station (Bit Goulem, Ourida, JRAD Bin).

During the 80s, other districts make their appearance, especially north of the city (and Massira Quds), extended and developed areas today. The goal of this extension was the slum clearance. It was a success, since 1986 the city was declared a city without slums. The craze is such that sections like (Massira II) are villa style.

The 90s marked the beginning of the urbanization of the axis center - Taza above. These are buildings with 6 or 7 floors occupying a strategic content between public facilities (municipality, space, civil protection, hospital ibn baja, high school and college ...) and on the other hand, it is down the high rock a hundred yards. This area is also adjacent to the uptown-Qessou meddah, Friouato and Hay Shuhada (developed throughout the last three decades).

More recently this area continues to morph and promises a beautiful view from the heights of the city. The planning now also spread on the road to Fez for several kilometers to reach the intermittently R508 (about Tainast).

The development plan provides a direct link between Taza West (at the "white bridge") and Taza high.

See also

  • Great Mosque of Taza
    Great Mosque of Taza
    The Great Mosque of Taza is a religious building in the medina of Taza in Morocco. It is near the Bab er-Rih .-History:...

  • Bou Hamara - early 20th century pretender to the throne of Morocco, based in Taza

External links

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