Muhammad V Square


Muhammad V Square, is a public square of historical and symbolic significance located in central Casablanca, Morocco. It was established in 1916 at the beginning of the period of French colonialism—under Resident General Hubert Lyautey—according to the design of the French architects Henri Prost and Joseph Marrast.

Name

The square is known officially as Muhammad V Square, in honor of the former king of Morocco Muhammad V. The square is known popularly as "Pidgeon Square" due to the heavy presence of pidgeons. It used to be known by different names such as Main Square, Square of France, Square of Victory, Administrative Square, and Lyautey Square.

History

The area south of the medina that is now Muhammad V Square had been occupied by barracks of the French colonial troops before the plan of Henri Prost and Joseph Marrast to establish a large square there was implemented in 1916. It became the heart of the expanding ville européenne, or European city. At the time, it was named Place Lyautey, Lyautey Square, in honor of the France's first résident général in Morocco.
On August 8, 1943, Charles de Gaulle—accompanied by General Georges Catroux, commissary of the Coordination of Muslim Affairs and governor general of Algeria, and Gabriel Puaux, resident general of France in Morocco—appeared at Place Lyautey, where he delivered a speech broadcast by radio.

Description

Surrounding the square, buildings for important administrative functions were erected in the Neo-Mauresque style innovated by Henri Prost and his contemporaries. This style combined French design principles with traditional Mauro-Andalusi architectural traditions, which lent the colonial administrative buildings legitimacy.
Among the important buildings around the square are:
Nearby:
The square can be accessed from Muhammad V Square Station on Line 1 of the Casablanca Tramway.