34. Salles du Maroc

34. Salles du Maroc

34. Salles du Maroc

For the residents of Morcenx, two halls bear this name: the Grand Maroc (Great Morocco) and the Petit Maroc (Little Morocco). The Grand Maroc is a very large hall that can accommodate up to 800 spectators and is used for concerts, conferences, theater performances, and all sorts of other public events, such as flea markets, Christmas dinners, etc. But why is it located on the edge of the town center, and why the reference to Morocco?

In the 1950s, the Saint-Jours sawmill became a veritable factory, the Saint-Jours et Fils factory, a nationally significant company whose various locations—log reception sites, workshops, and drying sheds—covered a large area on the outskirts of Morcenx, towards the Sabres road. The last factory to process Landes pine, it closed its doors in the early 1990s, leaving buildings to be repurposed.

A drying shed, proportionate to the size of such a factory, was repurposed to complement the town's multipurpose halls. It had the advantage of a pre-existing structure and the possibility of creating a large parking area. During this transformation, carried out in the late 1990s, the designers sought to preserve an architectural style that referenced the timber framing of its former history. In the 1995-1996 competition, the town of Morcenx was awarded the "Quality City" trophy for the creation of the Salle du Maroc (Morocco Hall). 

As for its name, it is also a tribute to the workers who went there to work in such intense heat that, for them, it was like going to Morocco. 

Another former drying shed, the Petit Maroc (Little Morocco), is smaller but still offers sufficient capacity. It has been renovated with parquet flooring, wall mirrors, and restrooms. Since 1994, it has hosted associations dedicated to theatre, such as the Clairière theatre, to dance and gymnastics, such as the GV, the Voluntary Gymnastics Association.