Gueliz: Marrakech's new town

Updated on October 1, 2026

Gueliz is the modern city centre of Marrakech, about 1.7 km northwest of the Koutoubia, outside the walls of the medina. The district was laid out from 1913 onwards, under the French protectorate, at the foot of Jbel Gueliz, the hill that gave it its name. Its main thoroughfare, Avenue Mohammed V (formerly Avenue Mangin, renamed in 1957), links the medina to Place du 16-Novembre. Here you will find ochre buildings, shops, galleries, cafés and shopping centres such as Carré Eden, which opened in 2014. The Jardin Majorelle and the Musée Yves Saint Laurent are about 1 km northeast of Place du 16-Novembre.

Highlights

Avenue Mohammed V

Lined with trees and ochre buildings, the avenue starts at the Koutoubia and runs through Gueliz to Place du 16-Novembre. It is the district's main shopping street, with banks, shops, cafés and agencies one after another. Walking up it from the medina, you see the city change character in about twenty minutes.

The Church of the Holy Martyrs

Built in 1928 and consecrated in 1929, on Rue de l'Imam Ali, this Catholic church is dedicated to the five Franciscans martyred in Marrakech in the 13th century. Its square bell tower, the same ochre shade as the neighbouring houses, can be spotted from afar. It still holds services for the city's Christian community.

Place du 16-Novembre

At the junction of Avenue Mohammed V and Avenue Hassan II, the square is named after 16 November 1955, the day Sultan Mohammed V returned to Morocco from exile. It is surrounded by recent buildings, shops and terraces, with the main post office right next to it. It is the easiest landmark for finding your way around Gueliz.

Infos pratiques

Tips

Gueliz is easy to explore on foot: the streets follow a grid and the pavements are wide, unlike the lanes of the medina. Shops in Gueliz often display their prices, which makes it a good place to compare before bargaining in the souks. For the Jardin Majorelle, tickets are sold only online, on the official ticketing website. In the beige petits taxis, ask for the meter to be switched on when you set off.

How to get there

Gueliz spreads around Place du 16-Novembre, at the junction of Avenue Mohammed V and Avenue Hassan II, about 1.7 km northwest of the Koutoubia. On foot: allow 20 to 25 minutes from the Koutoubia, walking up Avenue Mohammed V. Taxi: a petit taxi from the medina takes about ten minutes outside rush hour. Bus: several city bus lines run along Avenue Mohammed V; the network changed operator in December 2025. Train: Marrakech railway station is about 900 m west of Place du 16-Novembre.