Tetouan: Titwan distortion of the word in Tittawen Amazigh Rif (Tarifa), plural Tit = eye or source) is the capital and cultural center of the region of Tangier (Tanja) in northern Morocco and is considered the largest city in Andalusia in the kingdom. Since 1999, she became the main summer residence of King Mohammed VI.
The city is located in the Rif in the country Jebala which is the western Rif, about 40 kilometers east of the city of Tangier and near the Gibraltar Strait. It is located in a valley (the gorge of Tetouan) Mhannech carved by the river in the mountains of the Rif chain of limestone to the north and south. Near Tetouan, there are several coastal towns as tourism very Mediek and Martil, and holiday resorts like Marina Smir and Cabo Negro. The Wilaya of Tetouan
covers an area of 10375 km ².
In 2004, the population of the city had 320,539 inhabitants (277,516 in 1994). The province had 624,399 inhabitants. After Tetouan, the most populous cities are Fnideq (53,559 inhabitants), Martil (39,041 inhabitants), Mdiq (36,596 inhabitants) and Azla (12 611) [1]. History: The presence of Man in the Tetouan region date from the Neolithic (5000 years BC.), As evidenced by the Ibero-Maurusiens industries found in the cave of Ghar El Tahta south of the city, and El Ghar Lakhal near Ceuta. [2]
The city has existed since the third century BC. BC, the remains of Roman and Phoenician eras have been found, from the ancient city of Tamuda. The Phoenicians in turn established a trading post at the mouth of Oued Martil [3] [4].
The site of the city is first mentioned by the Andalusian geographer Abu Ubayd Al Bakri in the eleventh century, and by the twelfth Almohad sources.
Towards 1305, is a walled city established by Sultan Abu Merinide Tabit. It serves as a base to attack the city of Ceuta. In 1399, the city was destroyed by the Spaniards to stop pirate attacks for which the city was a rear base. Especially
occupation of Ceuta by the Portuguese in 1415, the main northern city of the Kingdom of Fez, which will accelerate the development of Tetouan as a basis to conduct strategic military campaigns against the occupiers and also to provide main port to the Mediterranean. According to historian
Skirej in 888 h (1483), 80 from Moorish Granada had started building houses in the part referred Al Balad, but were harassed by the tribe of Beni Hozmar who claimed ownership of the site. Having been informed of their complaints, the Ash-Shaikh Mohammad Sultan Al Wattassi (m in 910 h, 1504) lent them 40,000 mithqals 40 guards and sent to Fez and 40 Rif to protect them. He wrote to the Governor of Chefchaouen, Moulay Ali Ben Moussa Ben Rached El Alami (d. 917 h, 1511), founder of the city, asking him to send a competent person to construct a wall of protection. Thus Mohammed bin Ali Al Mandara (900 h m, 1494), a commander of Andalusian origin joined the city where he became governor and architect. It is considered the true founder of the city.
In 1492, the Reconquista (reconquest of Spain) ends with the fall of Granada who hunts south of Spain, thousands of Muslims and Jews who settled in the city. The population has
found increased also by the mass expulsion of the Moors by Felipe III in 1609 [5].
Then, the city experienced in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries a boom thanks to its Mediterranean port status (Martil) by which transit goods to and from the capital, Fez, other Moroccan ports being under Portuguese occupation until the early eighteenth century. Many consulates were established there.
Subsequently, the city will experience a large decline, whose causes are largely political. The port business and consulates will eventually be transferred to Tangier, the port can accommodate vessels greatest. After a major epidemic of plague (September 1818-May 1819), which was 6259 deaths, a quarter of the population of the city [6], the town was invaded by the English army from 1859 to 1862, which led to cessation of business operations and the flight of the population, especially Jewish merchants, parties in Gibraltar and Oran.
After the English occupation in 1913, Tetouan became the capital of northern Morocco and will remain so until the signing of the agreement of April 7, 1956 independence.
Ethnography: The company was initially Tetouanese mainly composed of Muslim and Moorish Jews, who were joined by families of senior officials is sent by the Sultan. The rural exodus and the business saw the installation of many families Jbala, neighboring tribes (Hozmar Beni, Beni Maadane, Beni Said, Ghomara, Beni Idder etc..). The city also saw the arrival of many Algerian families who have enriched society through their music and Turkish pastry recipe. Rif component became large (Beni Ouriaghel), attracted by the commercial activity of the city and fleeing the adverse conditions of the central Rif mountain. The 1960s saw rapid decrease the number of Jews [1] parties in Israel or Spain, and English families who remained after independence.
As in the rest of the Andalusian cities of Morocco (Rabat, Salé, Chefchaouen and Fes), many families still bear the names Moors (Moriscos), corresponding generally to nicknames evoke places, like Torres, Molina, Castillo Aragon , Medina, Paez Baeza Morales etc..
Monuments and Architecture: The neighborhood of Tetouan belong to 3 different types of architectural styles: Andalusian style (Medina), the English style of the early and mid 20th century (Ensanche) and style of post-independence ( suburbs). Each style has more or less important variations in relation to the evolution of styles and materials used.
Medina: The Medina (old city) of Tetouan is listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. She is in the eyes of specialists in first place all medina in Morocco.
The main element of the Medina is formed by walls dating from the late fifteenth century that surround the city. These walls allow the passage through 7 entries that are: Bab El Oqla, Bab Saaida (east), and Bab Bab Mqabare Ejjyafe (North), Bab Nouader (west), Bab A, Bab Remouz (south). Inside the city, the streets are picturesque and bustling with people. The main neighborhoods, dating to the construction of the city, are: Laayoune Essania, Trankat, Rbat Aala, Bled, Rbat Asfaux and Mellah.
houses of the Medina are generally very well preserved by the descendants of the owners. Some have benefited from a rehabilitation program financed by the Junta de Andalucia. From an architectural standpoint, the houses are usually made [7]: (i) a ground floor with entrance hall (Zaguan, Dehliz) overlooking a courtyard (Sahn), on which open 2 or 3 bedrooms (bit), an open lounge (maqâad) cooking and service, and (ii) a floor with rooms (ghorfa). Temporally, the houses follow two different architectural styles: •
those of the seventeenth century include a patio with pillars and columns (8 or 12) supporting the arches. The decoration is generally austere. • those of the nineteenth century the use of iron rails that support the floor. The houses may not involve a garden (Riyadh). The decor is rich, using the Fez mosaics, painted wood etc..
These houses and public buildings, have long been supplied with drinking water through a pipeline network from the source of the city. This network, called Skundu (deformation of English segundo), was developed by Ali Al Mandari himself, who built the city along a source line begin at the foot of Jebel Dersa. This ingenious device, which alone had the secret for security reasons the Governor and the chief engineer of the city, fed all the houses and public fountains, mosques, steam rooms etc.. thanks to the sloping topography of the city [8]. Although much damaged by the modern lines, some houses still retain the fountain of clear water. Besides the houses
Tetouanese, several mosques, public squares and zaouias and trade can be visited:
Spaces: El feddans (heart of the city which gives the Mechouar) Ghersa El Kébira (instead of trade changed), El USAA (small picturesque square) Streets: Tarrafine (jewelry stores) Mosques: Al Jamaa Al Kabir (Grand Mosque) Traditional Schools: Madrasati Lukach; Zaouias Sidi Ali ben Raissouni, Harraq, Abdellah El Hajj Bakkal ... Souks: Mesdaa (spices, cheeses), El Saquia Fouqia (clothing ),... El
Ensanche: Located west of the Medina district of El Ensanche (Chanti pronounced by locals) is the architectural style typical for the English protectorate. It consists mainly of 5-storey buildings with shops at ground floor. Some buildings have been rehabilitated under the program of rehabilitation of buildings of Tetouan. The interior is Mediterranean, with a corridor on which open the rooms, salons and services. Buildings can be constructed in complex with a central green space (if Pabellones Varela). The outlying
[edit] During the post-colonial period, the city has experienced significant urban migration, and expansion of buildings on the outskirts of the city. If the houses of former residents obey the rules of construction Tetouanese modernized (Bab El Oqla, Ziyyana), other houses have no particular style. This is usually a R + 2 square, with shops at ground-floor unadorned. This is true of neighborhoods Touilaa (emigrants), Saniat Errmel Sidi Talha (Barrio Malaga) etc. .. Other suburbs, where Essbaa Korat, Touilaa top Dersa and Samsa are of illegal (unauthorized constructions). Recently, the city has seen better planning, evidenced by the development of modern 10-storey buildings, located mostly along the Avenue des FAR, villas and areas south of the airport.
Economy: Long linked to international trade through the port of Martil, the current economy of Tetouan is based primarily on tourism and small business customers primarily Moroccan seaside.
Industrial units, stationed at District Industrial Martil are few and modest. However, several brick factories are located in the plain of Martil on the road to Oued Lau. Similarly, the region has a large unit of cement production as well as numerous quarries and crushing plants, which supply the region for building materials.
The hotel infrastructure in recent years has experienced rapid growth. A portion of the population still live trade of contraband brought in Ceuta, but this activity has declined significantly due to improved quality of Moroccan products. Without jobs, many of the young have migrated to Europe, especially to Spain, the Netherlands and Germany.
The development also revolves around Tetouan: Tetouan
Highway - Fnideq The expressway Tétouan - Tanger Tangier Med Port and Free Zone Oued Negro Fnideq Foreign direct investment groups in the world tourist areas, including the giant English Fadesa transfers of Moroccans living abroad Geographical proximity of Europe
Culture and Art: Tetouan is primarily a university center since it shelters the Presidency of the University Abdelmalek Saadi ( Martil), the Faculty of Sciences (Tetouan), the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Law (Martil), which house students in areas of Tangier, Tetouan, Larache, Chefchaouen and the Ecole Normale Superior (Martil).
It has many cultural spaces:
Institute of Fine Arts Library The General House of Culture The Archaeological Museum The International Conservatory of Music International Language (French, English, English, German, Dutch ...) Large Libraries Libraries and Archives Private (Daoudiya, Bennouna, Torres) On the Music, Tetouan is also a meeting place of several styles:
Andalusian music (Al Aala), the main kind of town, runs all festive occasions. The classic style inherited from the School of Rabat, was modernized by Mohammed El Arbi Temsamani. The main instruments are violin, lute and percussion (Tar and Derbouka). Piano and brass (saxophone and clarinet) were introduced by Temsamani. music of Algerian origin is also present through its Qsaid type Zendani, sung by Mennan and Zohra El Kharraz Bettioua, especially during the women's meetings. rural mountain music is represented by the Taqtouqa the Aayta and Alala-Yillali. The main instruments here are the violin, the lute, and percussion Guembri. A dancer dressed wearing a tea tray almost always accompanies the orchestra. This style has been modernized and popularized by Abdessadaq Chqara. In terms of culinary art, cuisine Tetouanese is deemed by its quality and variety. His dishes, from the combination of many recipes (FASS, Andalusian, Rif, Algerian, Jewish ,...), are famous throughout Morocco, especially with its salty-sweet (caramelized chicken with tomatoes, for example). La Pastilla Tetouanese, unlike other regions, has no almonds. The pastries include specific varieties such as Faqqassa the Bechkettou (Bizcocho) Khobzi (cake), the Bechkettou pwiwa (unleavened cake), the Qfafel, and Qrachel prepared during the holidays of Eid, or varieties with Moroccan local adjustments, as Kaab el Ghazal decorated.
Source:
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/tétouan
