Casablanca: Morocco's Metropolis and the Hassan II Mosque

Casablanca, Morocco's economic capital, is a vibrant metropolis of 4 million inhabitants where a unique Art Deco architecture asserts itself, dominated by the majestic Hassan II Mosque whose 210-metre minaret is the second tallest in the world.

From small town to great metropolis

Casablanca — 'the white house' in Spanish — was only a modest fishing village of 20,000 inhabitants at the beginning of the 20th century. It was the French Protectorate (1912-1956) that radically transformed the city: Resident General Lyautey called on the best French architects to build a modern city that would become the country's economic engine.

Within a few decades, Casablanca became one of the most modern cities in Africa, with a particularly dense urban fabric of Art Deco and neo-Moorish buildings in the Maarif district and around Boulevard Mohammed V. Today, Casa houses the largest commercial port in Africa and concentrates nearly half of Morocco's industrial GDP.

Hassan II Mosque, masterpiece of the Islamic world

Inaugurated in 1993 after six years of construction, the Hassan II Mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world, capable of accommodating 105,000 worshippers (25,000 inside, 80,000 on the esplanade). Its 210-metre minaret is the second tallest in the world after that of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. The unique feature of this mosque is that it is built partly on the Atlantic Ocean.

More than 10,000 Moroccan craftsmen worked for six years on the interior decoration: zelliges from Fès, stucco from Meknès, cedar woodwork from the Atlas, marble columns from the Anti-Atlas. The sliding roof of the central prayer hall allows it to open to the sky within minutes. Guided tours (non-Muslims welcome) are available several times a day.

Art Deco architecture: Casa's invisible heritage

Casablanca city centre has one of the finest concentrations of Art Deco architecture in the world, comparable to Miami or Buenos Aires. The district around Boulevard Mohammed V, Place des Nations Unies and the central market is full of 1920s-1940s buildings in a unique neo-Moorish Art Deco style, mixing horseshoe arches, ceramics, ironwork and bay windows.

The Casamémoire association has been working for years to preserve and promote this little-known heritage. Themed guided tours allow the discovery of architectural gems often invisible behind contemporary shop fronts: building lobbies with sumptuous décor, interior courtyards, Art Deco theatres and cinemas including the famous Cinéma Rialto.

The Corniche and modern districts

The Ain Diab Corniche stretches for several kilometres along the Atlantic, lined with beach clubs, fish restaurants, trendy cafés and hotel complexes. It is the favourite promenade of Casablancans, particularly lively at weekends and in the evenings. One can also see the Hassan II Mosque from the sea here, an unforgettable spectacle at sunset.

The Anfa district, with its colonial villas and lush gardens, recalls that Casablanca was also the site of the famous Anfa Conference in 1943, where Roosevelt, Churchill and General de Gaulle met to plan the rest of the Second World War. The Habous district, built in the 1930s in a neo-Moorish style, offers an artificial but authentic medina in its shops.

Practical tips for visiting Casablanca

Casablanca is Morocco's main air hub, served by Mohammed V Airport from around the world. The city is connected to Rabat (45 min by high-speed train), Tanger (2h by TGV), Fès (3h) and Marrakech (3h). A visit to the Hassan II Mosque is a must and is done in groups with an official guide (about 1h30, open to non-Muslims).

Casablanca is a city to be experienced rather than seen: stroll along the Corniche, wander through the souks of the Habous district, have lunch in a port fish restaurant, and finish with a drink at a rooftop bar in the Gauthier district. It is an ideal stop before or after Marrakech, accessible in 3 hours by comfortable train.