Marrakech: Churchill’s Secret Oasis Beckons Modern Travelers

"An essential place to spend time during any trip to Morocco is Marrakech, with its vibrant culture, ancient architecture and lively markets. The city has a historic medina listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site," describes Express in an article titled "The beautiful city just 4 hours’ flight from the UK, with a perfect temperature of 29°C in October". According to the publication, the medina is a bustling center of local life and commerce, teeming with stalls selling spices, clothing and handicrafts.

The city preserves the vestiges of the past in its eclectic buildings that represent a unique blend of Berber, Muslim and Spanish influences. The Ben Youssef Madrasa, a former Islamic school, built in the 14th century and perfectly preserved, and the El Badi Palace, built in the 16th century by the Saadian Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour, thanks to the money received from the Portuguese after the Battle of the Three Kings, are among the architectural highlights of the city.

Marrakech attracts and continues to attract celebrities and personalities from around the world. The British newspaper recalls that former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (1874-1965) had succumbed to its charm, and had even convinced Franklin D. Roosevelt to join him for a visit after the Casablanca conference in 1943 during World War II. "You cannot come to North Africa without visiting Marrakech," the senior British official is said to have told the American president.

The two leaders then went to Marrakech after the Casablanca conference so that Roosevelt could discover the beauty of the city. At the Mamounia where Churchill was staying, the former British Prime Minister offered the American president the painting "The Koutoubia Mosque Tower" of Marrakech that he had painted himself.

Express invites travelers to visit Marrakech in the fall, when temperatures remain high but are more comfortable than in summer.