Kasbah
Marrakech's royal district, where eight centuries of power left their walls: Bab Agnaou, El Badi, the Saadian Tombs, the green minaret of the mosque. You walk the monuments in sequence, away from the bustle of the souks.
History & context
The Kasbah is the city within the city. At the end of the 12th century, the Almohad caliph Yaqub al-Mansour had a princely city built for himself south of the medina: palace, gardens, barracks, its own mosque and its state gate, Bab Agnaou. Power settled here, and never moved.
The dynasties that followed left their mark. The Saadians, in the 16th century, raised El Badi palace and the royal necropolis - the Saadian Tombs, walled up and forgotten for two centuries. The royal palace, meanwhile, has never stopped being lived in: the Dar el-Makhzen remains a residence of the king, closed to the public.
You recognise the Kasbah by its green-tiled minaret, that of the Moulay El Yazid mosque, and by Bab Agnaou, the only carved gate in the walls. Between the two, alleyways quieter than the souks, sliding on into the neighbouring Mellah.
Eight centuries in which power kept its walls here - and you visit what it left behind.
Highlights
A neighbourhood is not visited in one go: here are the stops in the order of a walk.
Bab Agnaou
The only carved gate in the walls, the state entrance to the royal city: a sandstone arch framed by chiselled bands.
The Kasbah mosque
Its green-tiled minaret, a district landmark. The Moulay El Yazid mosque, originally Almohad. You take it in from the square.
El Badi palace
The ruins of Ahmed al-Mansour's Saadian palace: great court, pool, storks and panoramic terraces.
The Saadian Tombs
The royal necropolis walled up then rediscovered in 1917: Carrara marble and cedar ceilings.
Get your bearings
Everything is on foot, a few minutes from one point to the next.
In pictures
The best photo spots
A monumental district, quieter than the souks: take your time to frame the shot.
The green minaret
Frame the green-tiled minaret of Moulay El Yazid mosque from the square, early, before the crowd.
The carved arch at sunset
Step back facing the gate to catch its concentric arches when the sandstone turns blue-grey.
Storks and panorama
From the palace ramparts, the view over the medina, the Atlas and the storks' nests.
Guided walks & experiences
Le quartier se découvre librement. Mais un guide ou un food tour en révèle l'histoire et les bonnes adresses.
Booking via GetYourGuide, our ticket partner. Indicative prices; we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
On the ground
Where to take a break without leaving the neighbourhood.
Visitor tips
- Walk it in sequence: Bab Agnaou, the Kasbah mosque, the Saadian Tombs and El Badi are minutes from each other.
- The Moulay El Yazid mosque cannot be visited (place of worship), but its square and minaret are open to view freely.
- The royal palace, Dar el-Makhzen, is an official residence: no visit and no close-up photos.
- Carry on into the neighbouring Mellah, its spice market and the Place des Ferblantiers.
