The French occupation of Morocco left a distinct legacy in the country. As an example, French is still a commonly spoken language here. French architects left their mark as well, crafting structures that you can still view to this day, especially buildings constructed in the period between the two World Wars.
Before the arrival of the French, Casablanca was a small city of about 12,000 people. That population has since exploded into the millions and the city has grown into the economic powerhouse of Morocco. The French left a legacy in urban planning and building, probably best demonstrated in downtown Casablanca.
I’d like to share with you some of the architecture I spotted while rambling around the heart of Casablanca on a Sunday morning– the area where many of the buildings were constructed during the peak period of French influence almost a century ago. Many of the buildings have features of art deco or art nouveau, but also with a distinct neo-Moorish influence. I am not an expert in architecture, but found the effect to be quite pleasing.
The former administrative square, now known as Muhammad V square, is rimmed with buildings from this era, some restored and most still in use.
These include:
Wilaya (old police station – now the governor’s office). Note the prominent clock tower and arches….
Palace of Justice (courthouse)….
Casablanca’s Main Post Office….
Banque Al Maghrib sits across the street from the post office — a bank with prominent Moorish influences and an elegant entry door….
As we walk away from the Muhammad V Square we encounter the building that produced our One Clue Mystery photo two weekends ago (see below). The building and location were recognized by ProfessorAbe and George G — congratulations to both!!
This is the La Princiere Salon, characterized by a huge crown on its roofline. The building could use a clean-up but note some of its details….
Next I encountered the Hotel Amouday, which seems as if it would fit well on Miami’s South Beach…
The Hotel Transatlantique dates to 1922….
The Hotel Volubilis was next, with its art nouveau signage….
The Central Market Post Office….
I can’t remember the name of this building, but it’s details are quite interesting…
The Societe Generale Marocaine de Banque building…
The Cinema Rialto looks much like it did decades ago. It’s known for showing the film Casablanca from time to time….
A few more buildings in the neighborhood that I can’t remember the names of…
My walk took about an hour and a half and could easily have been extended. I saw a lot of beautiful old buildings that are worth preserving and restoring. UNESCO has received a nomination file to get Casablanca’s 20th century architecture classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It would be nice to see this happen.
