At the turn of the century

La Mamounia in Marrakech has a storied past. As it turns 100, Mary Lussiana returns to reflect on its successes and guess what the next few years might hold

- Mary Lussiana

THERE are many grande dame hotels the world over, but La Mamounia has claims to be the only one that has a female name. And, wow, is she still lovely. Now in her second century of life there were 100 candles on her birthday cake last October-La Mamounia's magical allure is still very much intact. It is not only the dusty-pink walls or the majestic red-cloaked doormen, the fragrant gardens or the dazzling Zellij tiles, but the combination of it all, which led Sir Winston Churchill to tell US President Franklin Roosevelt: 'It is one of the most beautiful places in the world.' It's one that Churchill immortalised on canvas time and time again.