La Maison de la Photographie
A medina riad turned into a collection: more than ten thousand photographs of Morocco before 1950, hung around a patio. Small, quiet, and one of the rare visits you leave having learned something about the country. The terrace, with its Atlas view, is worth the climb on its own.
History & context
Maison de la Photographie opened in April 2009, in a restored riad in the Marrakech medina, on the initiative of Patrick Manac’h and Hamid Mergani. Their starting idea: to bring back to Morocco the country’s photographic memory, long held elsewhere.
The collection brings together more than ten thousand early photographs, taken between 1870 and 1950: portraits, landscapes, street scenes, early views of Volubilis and the imperial cities. The prints, many in sepia, are hung around the patio and in the rooms of the former house.
On the top floor, a café terrace overlooks the roofs of the medina, with the Atlas on the horizon - a place to extend the visit over a tea or a tagine.
One of the rare medina visits you leave knowing something more about Morocco.
What to see - the highlights
The 1870-1950 collection
More than ten thousand early photographs of Morocco: portraits, landscapes, street scenes, early views of Volubilis and the imperial cities.
The portrait patio
The sepia prints hung around the open-air patio and in the rooms of the former house.
The panoramic terrace
On the top floor, a café overlooks the roofs of the medina with the Atlas on the horizon: tea, juice or the daily tagine.
A memory project
The founders' aim: to bring back to Morocco the country's photographic memory, long scattered abroad.
When to go
For the light on the terrace and sunset over the Atlas.
The terrace is in full sun and offers little shade in the hot hours.
The museum is indoors; the terrace is nicer outside heat spells.
Visitor tips
Late afternoon, for the terrace and sunset over the Atlas.
The terrace at midday in summer.
- Go up to the rooftop café: it is the highlight of the visit, with the view over the roofs and the Atlas.
- Free for under-16s.
- The entrance is discreet, in an alley near the Ben Youssef Madrasa: follow the signs.
Location & access
In the north of the medina, minutes from the Ben Youssef Madrasa and the Marrakech Museum. On foot only; the entrance, discreet, is in an alley - follow the 'Maison de la Photographie' signs.
