Habous, Traditional marketplace district in Casablanca, Morocco
Habous is a marketplace district in Casablanca with covered walkways, white-washed buildings, and vaulted passages where merchants sell their goods. The narrow streets contain shops offering Moroccan products, spices, pottery, and hand-woven carpets in a compact, organized layout.
The neighborhood was designed in 1916 by French urban planner Henri Prost as a residential area for Muslim merchants during the French protectorate period. This planned structure set it apart from traditional Moroccan medinas, which developed more organically over time.
The neighborhood serves as a working marketplace where local residents shop for daily needs and meet with neighbors. The shops and stalls reflect the region's craft traditions, from carpet trading to pottery making, and remain central to daily community life.
The neighborhood lies southeast of Hassan II Mosque and is best explored on foot, as the streets are too narrow for vehicles. Morning visits work best, when shops are opening and crowds are smaller.
The neighborhood displays a blend of French urban design and Moroccan architecture that stands apart from other parts of the city. This combination created a space that feels distinctly different from the organically developed medinas.
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