The Central Market (, ) in

Casablanca Casablanca, also known in Arabic as Dar al-Bayda ( ar, الدَّار الْبَيْضَاء, al-Dār al-Bayḍāʾ, ; ber, ⴹⴹⴰⵕⵍⴱⵉⴹⴰ, ḍḍaṛlbiḍa, : "White House") is the largest city in Morocco and the country's econom ...

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to ...

is a

marketplace A marketplace or market place is a location where people regularly gather for the purchase and sale of provisions, livestock, and other goods. In different parts of the world, a marketplace may be described as a '' souk'' (from the Arabic), ' ...

with historical and cultural significance. It is located on Muhammad V Boulevard, among the colonial architecture of the 20th century, facing the Central Market Tramway Station.

History

The Central Market was designed by Pierre Bousquet, and construction was completed in 1917, on the site of the

Casablanca Fair of 1915 The Casablanca Fair of 1915 (also known as the 1915 Casablanca Franco-Moroccan Fair or ) was a commercial exposition held by the French authorities at Casablanca in the protectorate of Morocco from 5 September to 5 November 1915. It was inten ...

. The Central Market was the most important marketplace in Casablanca's European ''ville nouvelle''. The Moroccan nationalist resistance fighter Muhammad Zarqtuni bombed the Central Market on December 24, 1953, after French forces forced Sultan Muhammad VI into exile on August 20, 1953—which was

Eid al-Adha Eid al-Adha () is the second and the larger of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam (the other being Eid al-Fitr). It honours the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael) as an act of obedience to Allah's co ...

Architecture

The market is characterized by its Neo-Mauresque architectural style. Among its most prominent features is its large gateway, imitating styles of gates in Morocco's imperial cities:

Marrakesh Marrakesh or Marrakech ( or ; ar, مراكش, murrākuš, ; ber, ⵎⵕⵕⴰⴽⵛ, translit=mṛṛakc}) is the fourth largest city in the Kingdom of Morocco. It is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco and is the capital of the Marrakes ...

Fes Fez or Fes (; ar, فاس, fās; zgh, ⴼⵉⵣⴰⵣ, fizaz; french: Fès) is a city in northern inland Morocco and the capital of the Fès-Meknès administrative region. It is the second largest city in Morocco, with a population of 1.11 mi ...

Rabat Rabat (, also , ; ar, الرِّبَاط, er-Ribât; ber, ⵕⵕⴱⴰⵟ, ṛṛbaṭ) is the capital city of Morocco and the country's seventh largest city with an urban population of approximately 580,000 (2014) and a metropolitan populati ...

, and

Meknes Meknes ( ar, مكناس, maknās, ; ber, ⴰⵎⴽⵏⴰⵙ, amknas; french: Meknès) is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco, located in northern central Morocco and the sixth largest city by population in the kingdom. Founded in the 11th c ...

. Another feature of the market is the octagonal center cupola, under which different kinds of fresh seafood are sold, such as fish of the Atlantic Ocean, shark meat, oysters, etc. The daily catch is displayed around a circular walkway, as well in a central island where oysters from Dakhla are shucked on the spot for one-by-one consumption. Flowers are also sold in decorated bouquets, as well as handicrafts such as woven reed baskets. There are also fossils and antiques, such as old black and white photographs and posters. Produce is also sold, in addition to herbs, spices, and meat from butcher shops. The market houses some restaurants as well, and is considered one of the most important lunch destinations for tourists and ''Casawis'' alike.

Access

The Central Market Station on Line 1 of the Casablanca Tramway is directly in front of the Central Market's main entrance on Muhammad V Street.

References

Bazaars Casablanca Retail markets in Africa {{Morocco-struct-stub