Koutoubia Mosque
The Koutoubia Mosque is an architectural masterpiece with Hispano-Moorish influences dating back to the 12th century. It got its name from "kutubiyyun," the booksellers' souk that existed on the same square. Its construction began in 1120 during the Berber Almoravid dynasty. It was altered starting in 1162 by Abdelmoumen, the first ruler of the Almohad dynasty, who oriented it towards Mecca. It was completed in 1199 during the reign of his grandson, Yacoub el-Mansour, in the form we see today. Its magnificent minaret stands at 69 meters, or 77 meters if you include the copper spire adorned with three balls. Only worshipers can enter the interior of Koutoubia, which can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers. However, visitors can explore its garden and admire the architecture of this religious building.
Saadian Tombs
This royal necropolis dates from the late 17th century. Built from 1578, during the time of Sultan Ahmed Al Mansour Saadi, the sixth Sultan of the Saadian dynasty, these tombs are richly adorned with Hispano-Moorish decorative arts. They remained hidden for a long time. They were sealed in the 18th century and were only rediscovered in 1917. Highlights of the visit include the Hall of Twelve Columns, with its cedar wood dome, which houses the tomb of Ahmed El Mansour. In the gardens, don't forget to look up and you might see the storks that nest there every year.
Ben Youssef Medersa
This Quranic school, in addition to its historical value, is an exceptional example of Andalusian-Moorish architecture. Founded in the 14th century, it reached its peak in the 16th century when it became the most significant medersa in the Maghreb. It could accommodate up to 900 theology students. Those who came from outside Marrakech were boarders and lived in small, spartan rooms, contrasting with the elegance and beauty of the rest of the school. Admire the impressive entrance doors, the courtyard with its large marble basin, the delicacy of the zellige and gebs (hand-carved plaster), the majesty of the marble columns, the intricately carved wood, and more. After a restoration project that began in 2017, the Ben Youssef Medersa reopened to the public in April 2022.
Bahia Palace
The Bahia Palace (meaning "The Brilliant" in Arabic) was built at the end of the 19th century within the medina by the Grand Vizier of Sultan Hassan I, Sidi Moussa, a former slave who became a powerful figure in Morocco. Completed in 1867, the palace was significantly expanded and embellished from 1894 to 1900 by his son and successor, Ahmed ben Moussa, to house his four wives and 24 concubines. This vast palace sprawls across two hectares and contains 150 lavishly decorated rooms and an 8,000 square meter garden! After Sidi Moussa's death in 1900, others were entranced by the beauty of the place. King Hassan II eventually entrusted its care to the Ministry of Culture. This allowed part of the building to become accessible to the public.
Majorelle Garden
The Majorelle Garden is now over 100 years old! It was created from 1922 by French painter Jacques Majorelle, who had established his workshop here. This building, which still stands in the middle of the lush vegetation, adorned in the famous Majorelle blue, now houses the Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts. The entire garden was purchased by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1980 when they saved all of these exotic plants and trees from many different countries from destruction. Restored, the Majorelle Garden is now a haven of greenery, peace, freshness, and colors in the bustling heart of the city.
Yves Saint Laurent Museum
Located just a few meters from the Majorelle Garden is the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, which showcases the works of the famous French fashion designer. Caban, trench coat, tuxedo, pantsuit, Saharan jacket, these are some of the major fashion classics that he invented. He also created luxurious Haute Couture evening dresses, real "tributes to painting, literature, theater, and fashion." The museum includes a temporary exhibition hall, a research library with over 5,000 volumes, a 140-seat auditorium, a bookstore, and a restaurant with a terrace where you can relax after your visit.
Jardin Secret
The Jardin Secret, nestled in the heart of the medina in the lovely Mouassine district, not far from the Dar el Bacha Confluence Museum, is both an essential and an unsuspected place for those who don't know it. You can easily pass by without imagining what lies behind its walls. It consists of a riad and a double garden where calm and tranquility reign. Visitors often speak in hushed tones to respect the serenity this place exudes. Its origins date back over four centuries to the Saadian dynasty but it was destroyed and had a new lease of life in the 19th century. It then became the backdrop for political intrigues and betrayals before being abandoned upon the death of its last resident in 1934. In 2008, an incredible eight-year restoration project was undertaken. In 2016, this medina jewel was finally opened to the public for the first time. Visitors can now appreciate its two gardens—one exotic, the other Islamic—as well as the craftsmanship of Moroccan artisans and the tradition of Andalusian and Moroccan palace architecture. Everything is there: gardens, water management, large marble basin, green zellige tiles, bejmat terracotta paving, zouak ceilings (painted wood technique), hand-carved plaster, tadelakt walls, porticos with pointed arches and wooden lintels, exposed beam ceilings, double doors, low windows...
Menara Garden
The Menara Garden, spread over 100 hectares, was created during the Almohad dynasty in 1157 under the leadership of Abdelmoumen. It is recognizable by its large basin and a pavilion built in 1866 during the Alaouite dynasty. The basin, with a surface area of 195 meters by 160 meters, is elevated to irrigate the gardens by gravity. It is supplied with water from the Atlas Mountains through an ingenious 700-year-old canalization system called khettaras. Visitors like to take photos and feed the carp in the basin. The pavilion is iconic, square-shaped, measuring 12 meters by 12 meters, and topped with a green pyramidal roof. This small palace, reflecting in the basin with the snow-capped Atlas Mountains in the background (especially from November to April), presents a postcard-perfect scene. The Menara Garden also features small gardens, a vast olive grove, as well as palm trees and fruit trees.
