MUSEUM FOR THE CIVILIZATION OF WATER IN MOROCCO

At the entrance to the Palmeraie, you won't want to miss this Art Deco building. Opened to the public in 2017, the Mohamed VI Museum for the Civilization of Water in Morocco - known as the Aman Museum - is an impressive sight. And the paddle wheel on the forecourt won't fool you! The museum offers 2,000 m² of permanent exhibition space on three levels, each dedicated to a specific approach to water. The premise is the relationship that Moroccan civilization has with water, but also the fine technical mastery developed over the centuries to tame it. Like the water's journey from the Atlas mountains to the plains, the visit proceeds from top to bottom. First, we (re) discover the scientific properties of water, with illustrated panels and interactive installations that are particularly well-suited to children. On the lower level, the country's water resources and the social and environmental issues they raise are explained in detail. The spiritual and ritual dimension is also addressed. Water is very present in Islam, and we learn that the habous (land ownership institutions) were responsible for its redistribution until the establishment of the protectorate. This explains why the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs oversees the museum. The jemaas, customary associations, were also involved in day-to-day management, as this was a concern for the whole community. The last level is devoted to heritage(seguias, khettaras), which varied according to time and place, and technical developments in hydraulic engineering.

With this museum, with its "cosmic" scenography, Morocco is making a choice for the future, and working to raise awareness among younger generations. Despite a few redundancies in the elements presented, it is nonetheless worthy of great interest. And it's well worth taking the time to venture out of the medina.

Marrakech by the river. If you'd like to pursue the theme of water, the city has many examples of how this resource has been managed through the ages. On the south-eastern edge of the medina, the Agdal and Menara gardens bear witness to the means used to contain and store water. Finally, the Mouassine and Chrob or Chouf fountains are reminders of the place of these numerous water access points in the heart of the districts.