Mouassine Fountain, Marrakech

The Medina of Marrakech once counted 80 fountains; the oldest and most important still in use today is the Mouassine Fountain.

The fountain is part of the Mouassine complex that comprises a 12th century mosque, a library, a hammam and a madrasa. The fountain is situated directly to the north of the mosque’s ablution chamber.

The fountain is rectangular in shape, 18 meters long and 4.70 meters wide. It has three arcades with a carved cedar canopy surmounted by green tiles. Two of the arches are plain – these were for watering animals. The third arch, which is for humans, is intricately decorated.

The fountain was built in 1570 on the order of Sultan Moulay Abdellah. It is fed by underground channels that were created when the city was founded in 1072. The water comes from the Atlas Mountains.

These channels are called khettera, or qanat, and they have been in use in desert countries since the 1st millennium BC. They were developed on the Iranian plateau and the idea quickly spread. They consist of a series of vertical shafts, like a well, connected by sloping tunnels.

Although locals might drink the water, it isn’t a good idea for tourists to try it. Just admire the fountain, take photos of it and stick to bottled mineral water.