Demnate

Demnate is the second largest city in the province Azilal in the region of Tadla- Azilal in the center of Morocco. The Berber word Demnate can possibly be with " Fertile Soil" translate; it is the plural form of the words Ddminte ou Tadminte.

Location

Demnate is located about 100 km ( driving distance ) east of Marrakech and about 74 km southwest of the provincial capital Azilal at an altitude of about 970 m above sea level. inst.

Population

Berber of different tribes in the area account for over 90 % of the population, but is spoken highly Moroccan - Arabic. The majority of the population has migrated to the 1970s from the surrounding mountain areas.

Economy

Previously lived most of the inhabitants of the city of agriculture. Only in the period of French colonization and after independence of Morocco (1956 ) took over many men working in crafts, trade and transport. Others work in the cities of the North or in Europe - so the place is also dependent on money transfer services.

History

Supposedly, the foundation of the town in 1000 AD goes back to the time before the year; this would mean that Demnate would be about 50 years older than Marrakech. Thereafter, however, has no information more for the market town Demnate. End of the 19th century Charles de Foucauld traveled the Maghreb - from Demnate mentioned a large Jewish quarter ( Mellah ) and the small town of about 3,000 inhabitants, he found nothing but praise. In 1907, the army of the pro-French Sultan Abd al- Aziz was in Demnate ( r. 1887/1901-1908 ) beaten by his brother Moulay Abd al - Hafiz, who a year later power in Morocco took over.

Attractions

The city has no significant sights. About 2 km to the east at Imi -n- IFRI is a spring -lined waterfalls canyon that of a natural rock arch ( pont naturel ) is spanned.

Rock gate of Imi -n- IFRI