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Marrakech is divided into two distinct parts: the Medina, or the historical city, and the new city with its two principal districts that are called: Gueliz and Hivernage.

Gueliz is the European modern district of Marrakech. Its name comes from the French word “église” as some say, because the first monument that was built there was the Catholic Church Saints Martyrs. However, some tend to affirm that the name is rather Berber and comes from the hill of Gueliz.

Gueliz was created in the period of Lyautey, under the French protectorate, by the French architect Henri Prost. Its squaring is very simple, and has small perpendicular streets joining the large avenue of France, and the residential district of Hivernage. The district extends from the avenue Mohamed V which goes up until the Medina and which is 3 kilometers long, to the residential district of Hivernage on the south, and the Majorelle garden in the north. The modern district is located at the place Abd El Moumen Ben Ali with its coffee terraces, and its pastry making stores until the place of La Liberté, passing by the new Harti place, recently renovated with its multicolored fountain and its park.

The modern district shelters also the Palace of the Congress and the Royal Theatre. It is easy to find banks there, as well as distributors and exchange offices, as they are all almost located on the Mohamed V avenue. Being also touristic, Gueliz shelters travel agencies, administrations, large fast foods, and art galleries. The largest post office is also there on the place of November 16th. As for the famous covered market of Gueliz, it gathers grocers, butchers, and fishmongers, among many others.

Gueliz is today to the center of Marrakech where the essence of its commercial activity concentrates.