“Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”

Djemaa El Fna,Morocco
 LOCATION

Djemaa el-Fna (The Place of Dead) Square, located at the edge of the
medina in Marrakesh, is one of the grandest and oldest squares in
Morocco. It is considered as an important symbolic landscape since
its foundation in the 11th century.
 Map showing the positions of various performers and social actors
Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a part of “Intangible Cultural
Heritage of Humanity” in 2003, Djemaa el-Fna is famous for its intangible
activities contained in its tangible boundaries, a daily spectacle of Moroccan
traditions “performed through musical, religious and artistic expressions”:
this triangular square, which is surrounded by restaurants, stands and public
buildings, provides everyday commercial activities and various forms of
entertainment.

Section through the square

Dozens of roof-top balconies surrounding the square provide a perfect

auditorium to enjoy the spectacle on the square from a “safer” but gentrified
space.
HISTORY
Place of the Deceased or Place of the destroyed Mosque.

Between the 12th century and the end of the 14th

the place appears in its role of justice. Medieval writings speak of a Place or
esplanade (place of the Palace) where the sentences of justice has been made
and applied : hanging and decapitation. Also note that the Palace of this time
used this esplanade for military purposes and military parades.
In the 17th century
The Jemaa El Fnaa Square Marrakech appears in historical tale sunder the
name of Place des Trépassés (DeceasedPlace) for the first time. Name given
after a epidemic plague that decimated a part of the population of Marrakech
including the King himself (Ahmed Al Mansour) during 9 years, this one
wanting to build a huge mosque in front of the square, which will not take
place.
From the 17th to the beginning of the 20th century
The Place is mentioned by several Moroccan or Foreign traveler as being
a Place of business (shops, souks, administration of the customs) and a Place
of celebration (songs, dances, horse show) and always a Place of justice
(execution of rebels by the authorities).

Major activities
What is Jemaa El Fnaa Square today?
The Jemaa El Fnaa Square Marrakech is also an esplanade of life, a lung of the
Medina and a point of passage for tourists.

Cafes, hotels, restaurants, Shops, bazaars, entry point to the souks in its
northern part

Administrative buildings: district Wilaya,

police station, post office, Guessabine A small park (Place Foucault) Koutoubia Mosque
Mosque
TRANSFORMATIONS

THEN NOW
 The flexible spatial configuration of Djemaa el-Fna from morning to night

The flexibility of the program is made possible by two formal strategies.

1.stalls on wheels. Both the snack stalls and the dinner stalls are adapted to be
moved easily, and a big restaurant could be assembled in less than 20 minutes. The
stalls are restricted to a fixed area occupying less than one-third of the square,
forming temporal “commercial streets” on the square.
2.The“archipelagos” on the square. “Al-halqa”, a circle arrangement with
audience forming around the center of the performers, entertaining space in public
area, be it a marketplace, a medina gate or a downtown square.
The size of “Alhalqa”, more than 20 meters in diameter, in an organized spatial
hierarchy.
Since 2001
The Jemaa El Fnaa Square became part of the famous International Film Festival
of Marrakech.
And since the end of 2017
Part of Musical events.