Casablanca: Medina, Art Deco and Urban Culture

Casablanca reveals itself through a variety of urban landscapes: in the city centre, broad boulevards and spacious squares lined with Art Deco buildings shape the view. These urban spaces recall the former colonial rule. Alongside them, the Medina, the Habous district, distinctive individual buildings and Villa des Arts represent other facets of the city. Architecture, history and art offer different ways to discover Casablanca according to your own interests.

Medina and Habous: two historical perspectives

Casablanca’s Medina was rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake. The national tourism authority therefore classifies it as the country’s newest medina. Its reconstruction following a specific event provides a clear historical reference point and gives the Medina a distinctive place in the national context.

The Habous district, also known as the New Medina, was built between 1918 and 1955 to accommodate migrants arriving from all over Morocco. Its winding streets, Moorish architecture and bustling everyday life come together in this historic district. Its stated purpose and characteristic streets offer two different perspectives: you can explore the city’s history and the arrival of people from across the country, or focus on the architecture and everyday life. Habous thus represents not just individual façades, but also a district with a clearly defined historical role.

Art Deco and distinctive buildings

The city centre offers a different impression, with broad boulevards and spacious squares. Notable buildings on Boulevard Mohammed V include the Bourse du Commerce and Maroc Soir; their forms are described as rounded or imposing. The comparison brings the variety of architectural impressions to life: alongside the impact of entire streetscapes, individual buildings stand out with distinctive forms.

The Bessonneau building, known as the Lincoln Hotel after the hotel formerly housed there, is also part of this architectural history. It is described as the first example of a monumental, austere European structure combined with fine Moroccan architecture and ornamentation. This very contrast is striking: a European-style structure meets Moroccan design and carefully crafted decoration. The building cannot be reduced to a single stylistic impression.

The Mahkama du Pacha, also called Pacha du Habous, is a traditional Moroccan courthouse and an example of Moorish architecture. Elegant arches and delicate ornamentation give the building its distinctive form. The minaret of the Hassan II Mosque adds another dimension: it rises 210 metres above the Atlantic. Together, these buildings show how differently architecture can make an impression in Casablanca—through decorative details, a blend of design traditions or a specific height.

Art as another side of the city

Villa des Arts adds a cultural focus beyond architecture. Visitors can discover paintings, sculptures and installations there, as well as attend gatherings and performances. The various art forms and events offer several ways to engage: you can focus on visual art or also consider Villa des Arts in the context of its gatherings and performances. For travellers with a range of interests, it offers another subject to explore alongside the buildings and historic districts.

Take your interests into account when choosing accommodation

The topics that appeal to you most in Casablanca can help shape your choice of holiday apartment. Architecture enthusiasts can make boulevards, squares and individual buildings the focus of their plans; those more interested in history and the character of different districts may turn their attention to the Medina and Habous. Villa des Arts offers another focus for art lovers. Casatramway and Casabusway provide transport within Casablanca. If you plan to explore several different themes, check the latest information about these transport services.

Discover more destinations

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