La Mamounia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids La Mamounia |
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La Mamounia entrance
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Moroccan architecture and Art Deco |
| Location | Avenue Bab Jdid, 40 040 Marrakech, Morocco |
| Coordinates | 31°37′15″N 7°59′50″W / 31.62083°N 7.99722°W |
| Completed | 1929 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Henri Prost Antoine Marchisio |
La Mamounia is a famous five-star hotel located in Marrakech, Morocco. It sits right across from the historic Kutubiyya Mosque. Many people consider it one of the best hotels in the world. In fact, Condé Nast Traveler magazine has often called La Mamounia the top hotel globally. The name "Mamounia" means "safe haven" in Arabic.
The hotel offers a variety of places to stay. It has 135 rooms, which are quite spacious. There are also 71 suites, which are even larger. For a truly special experience, guests can rent one of three private riads. Each riad is like a large private house with its own garden.
Over the years, many famous people have stayed at La Mamounia. These include important leaders like Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela. Movie stars and musicians such as Charlie Chaplin, Paul McCartney, and Omar Sharif have also enjoyed their time there. Even famous athletes like Zinedine Zidane have visited.
History of La Mamounia
The idea for La Mamounia came about in 1923. Architects Henri Prost and Antoine Marchisio designed it. The hotel was built on land that a Sultan (a ruler) named Mohammed ben Abdallah gave to his son, Moulay Mamoun, in the 1700s. This land included a large palace and beautiful gardens.
La Mamounia officially opened its doors in 1929. Its design mixes traditional Moroccan architecture with the stylish Art Deco look.
In 1935, Winston Churchill, who later became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, wrote about the hotel. He told his wife that it was a "wonderful place" and "one of the best" hotels he had ever stayed in. Today, one of the bars at the hotel is named after him.
La Mamounia has even been featured in movies! In 1956, parts of Alfred Hitchcock's film The Man Who Knew Too Much were filmed there. The movie starred famous actors James Stewart and Doris Day. Later, in 1973, musician Paul McCartney wrote a song called "Mamunia" while he was staying at the hotel.
In September 2009, the hotel reopened after a big three-year renovation. A designer named Jacques Garcia led the changes. The new design added more red, yellow, and black colors. Some people, however, felt that a few of the hotel's original features were removed during this update.
From 2010 to 2015, La Mamounia also hosted a special event. It offered the La Mamounia literary award, a prize for Moroccan writers. The winner received 200,000 Moroccan dirhams, which is the local money.
In 2019, the government of Morocco announced plans to sell part of its ownership in the hotel. This was part of a deal to help reduce debt for the state-owned railway company.
More recently, in 2020, the hotel's main building, its four restaurants, and four bars were updated again. Famous chefs Pierre Hermé and Jean-Georges Vongerichten each helped redesign one of the restaurants.
Hotel Facilities
The private riads at La Mamounia are very luxurious. Each one has three bathrooms, comfortable living areas, its own swimming pool, and private terraces.
The hotel is home to special restaurants created by famous chefs Pierre Hermé and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Guests can also explore the hotel's huge 20-acre garden. There are beautiful courtyards with columns, a relaxing spa, and a health club. The health club is located inside a modern glass building.
See also
In Spanish: La Mamounia para niños
