01/04/2015
Rabat
Rabat (Arabic: الرباط, Ar-Ribat; Tamazight: Errbaṭ) is the capital of Morocco and the capital of the Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer. It is located in Atlantic Ocean and on the left or south bank of the mouth of Bouregreg, opposite the city of Salé; both cities are qualified for this because of "twin cities".
Administratively, the territory - as distinct from that of the agglomeration rbatie including its suburbs - with an area of 118 km27 corresponds to that of the Rabat prefecture since the return to the principle of the unity of the city in 20028, consists of a part of the urban district of Rabat, divided into five boroughs; secondly urban commune tiny Touarga seat of the main palace of the country, wedged in the former. At the last census of 2004, its population was 627,932 habitants9 (621,480 for the town of Rabat and 6452 to that of Touarga6). With its suburbs, it forms the second largest city in the country after that of Casablanca10.
The city was founded in 1150 by the Almohades, who built a citadel (become the kasbah Oudayas), a mosque and a residence. It was then called a ribat ("fortress" 11). The current name comes from Ribat Al Fath, "Camp Victory". Later, the grand-son of al-Mumin - Ya'qub al-Mansur - expanded and completed the city, including the surrounding walls. Later, it served as the basis for shipments Almohad Andalusia.
After 1269, when Mérinides choose Fez as capital, Rabat entered a period of decline. Thus, the Moorish explorer Hassan al-Wazzan reported that there remained only 100 inhabited houses in 1515. In 1609, following the decree of expulsion of Philip III, 13 000 Moors found refuge, thus revitalizing the ville12 . Until the nineteenth century, Rabat is known Salé-le-Neuf.
In 1912, Lyautey made Rabat the seat of the Resident General and the capital of the French protectorate in Morocco. In 1956, on the independence of Morocco, the city remained the capital of the country.
Since 2012, a set of Rabat sites are inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage. The city also received second place in the standings CNN "Best tourist destinations in 2013"