The 13 best monuments in Marrakech

The 13 best monuments in Marrakech: If you’re traveling to Marrakech, you’ll probably want to check out these 13 monuments that should be on your list. This is just a sample of the most popular monuments in Marrakech. They’re all interesting and well worth seeing.

1. Koutoubia Mosque

The Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, Morocco, is a mosque and Islamic complex built between 1196 and 1213. It is located in the city of Marrakech, Morocco. The mosque is one of the most famous in Marrakech and one of the largest in Africa.

Construction of the mosque began during the reign of Yaqut al-Mustansir (1226-1270), Sultan of Marrakech, and was completed by his son Abu el Hassan, who reigned from 1269 to 1286. Originally intended as a madrasa or religious school, it now serves as both a mosque and an active university where students study Islam, theology and law.

The minaret was built in 1311 by Yacoub el Mansour ben Ahmed (1289-1332), who also built the El Badi palace, with its famous garden known as the Secret Garden. The minaret was added to give visitors an extra vantage point when arriving at this national monument.

Ibn Battuta, who visited it in 1353, described it as “one of the most beautiful mosques in all Islam”.

2. The Menara gardens

The Menara Gardens in Marrakech, Morocco, are a monument to the waterfalls and gardens of Marrakech. The gardens are an integral part of the city’s historic heritage, and are very popular with local tourists.

The Menara Gardens in Marrakech, Morocco, have been around for a long time, but only became popular in the 13th century, when they served as a stopover for travelers on their way to Mecca. The Berber chieftain Moulay Ismail transformed them into a royal garden in 1686 when he built his palace there. Today, the gardens are open to the public and offer magnificent views over the city, as well as relaxing strolls through their magnificent park and waterfalls.

The Menara Gardens in Marrakech, Morocco, were created by Moulay Ismail in 1686 as part of the construction of his palace and remained in his family until they were given to the people of Marrakech in 1871 by Sultan Moulay Hassan II.

3. Bahia Palace

The Bahia Palace Marrakech, Morocco, is one of the most beautiful palaces in Morocco. It is located in the center of the city, overlooking Jemaa el Fna square. The palace was built by Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah in the 19th century.

The palace has an impressive entrance decorated with mosaics and tiles. Inside, it contains numerous rooms and halls surrounded by gardens filled with flowers and plants. The palace features a mosque, a hammam (bath), a men’s lounge and a women’s lounge.

Visitors can enjoy their stay at this historic site by carefully exploring each room, enjoying the gardens and admiring the view of Marrakech from the terrace.

4. Majorelle Gardens

The 13 best monuments in Marrakech: The Majorelle Gardens are an art gallery and botanical garden located in Marrakech, Morocco. It was created by French artist Jacques Majorelle in collaboration with his son Louis Majorelle. The garden was opened to the public in stages between 1922 and 1953. In 1972, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The garden is famous for its use of bright colors and unusual combinations of materials. The main building is built of local stone and covered with the red clay tiles typical of Marrakech. The walls are covered with colorful mosaics made from broken pottery. The interior decor is predominantly Moorish, but there are touches of Art Deco and Asian influences throughout.

5. Saadian tombs

The Saadian Tombs are located in Marrakech and were built in the 16th century by the Saadians, a dynasty of Berber origin. They were the burial place of the sultans of Morocco.

The complex consists of two parts: an underground chamber and a mosque with a minaret above ground. The underground chamber contains eight tombs; the mosque has one more.

The entrance to the underground chamber is via a staircase located in an area close to Bab Agnaou, one of the gateways to Marrakech’s medina. The area around this entrance is surrounded by walls with two bastions on either side; these bastions are topped by crenellations and merlons, giving them a military appearance.

Each room inside the monument has a different function: some are for prayer, others for meditation or for receiving guests; there is also a kitchen where meals were prepared for those who lived here permanently or temporarily (during religious festivals).

6. Bab Agnaou

The 13 best monuments in Marrakech: Bab Agnaou is located in the southwestern medina of Marrakech, Morocco. Built by the Almoravid dynasty (1056-1147), it has a square shape with two gates to the east and west. The name Bab Agnaou comes from the Arabic word for “garden gate”.

Bab Agnaou is one of the main entrances to Marrakech’s medina. It is located at the end of an avenue leading from Bab Ait Ben Haddou to Place Jemaa el Fna, one of Marrakech’s most important squares.

7. El Badi Palace

The Palais El Badi is a palace in Marrakech, Morocco, located on the outskirts of the city. It was built by the Almohad caliph Abu el Hassan as a desert retreat and served as a residence for several subsequent rulers, including Moulay Ismail (1672-1727), who considerably enlarged it. The El Badi Palace was commissioned by Sultan Abu l-Hasan Ali ibn Othman and built by him between 1567 and 1578. It was only intended for use during his lifetime, but after his death it served as the official residence of all his successors until the reign of Yusef ben Hassan (1873-1894).

The palace consists of two main sections: La Medina, the oldest part of the palace, which contains the reception rooms for guests; and the new section called Dar al Baida (House of Foreigners), which contained the living quarters for members of the royal family and their servants.

8. Jemaa el Fna Square

Place Jemaa el Fna is a large square in Marrakech, Morocco. It is one of the city’s most popular attractions. Jemaa el Fna means “assembly” or “gathering” in Arabic.

Jemaa el Fna Square has played an important role in the life of Marrakech since at least the 12th century. It is located in the center of Marrakech’s ancient medina, close to its surrounding wall. The square was once a place where local storytellers, acrobats and musicians gathered to entertain locals and visitors alike. Today, however, it has become a more general market where you can find all kinds of goods and services, such as food stalls and photographers selling their photography services.

Jemaa el Fna Square is a popular tourist attraction, and many travelers come from all over the world to visit this fantastic place!

9. Marrakech Souk

Marrakech’s souks (markets) are a must-see. The main one is called the Souk Ait Ben Haddou and is located at the entrance to the medina (old town). It’s a labyrinth of alleyways and stores selling everything from spices to carpets. Don’t hesitate to haggle with the merchants: they often start by doubling or tripling the price. The food market on Avenue Mohammed V is another place to visit. Here you can sample fresh dates, olives and other Moroccan delicacies.

10. Medersa Ben Youssef

The 13 best monuments in Marrakech: The Medersa Ben Youssef is a historic Islamic college in Marrakech, Morocco. It was built in the center of the city by the Saadian sultan Ahmad al-Mansour (1578-1603) between 1584 and 1585, during the university’s first construction period.

The building is remarkable for its extraordinary carved cedar roof beams, arranged in a grid pattern. The building is surrounded by an outer wall and a courtyard with an entrance gate; on either side of the gate are two large halls used as prayer rooms during religious festivals. The central courtyard contains a small mosque with an ablutions fountain.

The building has three floors: a lower level where students lived and studied, a middle level containing classrooms and an upper level with a prayer room overlooking the city.

11. Marrakech medina

Marrakech’s medina is a city within a city that dates back over 1,000 years and was once the center of Morocco’s political and cultural life. Today, it is home to numerous historic mosques, palaces, gardens and other attractions. The best way to explore this labyrinthine district is on foot, as it’s easy to get lost in its narrow streets if you’re not careful.

The medina is divided into two parts, the “new” medina and the “old” medina. The new medina was built under the Alaouite dynasty in the 18th century, while the old medina was built in the 11th century under the Almoravid dynasty. The old medina has narrow streets that are mainly pedestrianized and sometimes paved; however, both areas have traffic lights for cars and mopeds.

The medina is home to numerous mosques, including the Koutoubia Mosque, one of Morocco’s most famous monuments, as well as other historic sites such as the Ben Youssef Madrasa (medieval Islamic school) and the Bahia Palace (18th-century palace).

12. The ramparts of Marrakech

The 13 best monuments in Marrakech: A visit to the ramparts of Marrakech is a must. This fortified enclosure was built in the 17th century to protect the city from attack by invaders, and still exists today. Approximately 2 kilometers long, it is surrounded by two moats.

The enclosure is made up of several gates, including Bab Agnaou, which leads to Guéliz (the old town), Bab Ait Ben Haddou and Bab el Khemis, which leads to the palaces of the medina. You can also see Bab Doukkala, which dates back to the 14th century and has become one of Marrakech’s most photographed landmarks.

Once inside, you’ll find yourself in another world, where you can spend hours wandering around with no plan or hurry.

13. Golf de la Palmeraie (Marrakech Royal Golf Club)

Golf de la Palmeraie is a golf course in Marrakech, Morocco. It was designed by American architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and built in 1973.

Since its opening, the course has received 4 stars every year in Golf Digest magazine’s “Places to Play” rankings. It is also ranked among the top 100 courses in Africa.

Golf de la Palmeraie is located in the heart of Marrakech, just 20 minutes from the city center. The 18-hole, par 72 course is 7,400 meters long and has a maximum slope of 135 from the back tees (or 125 from the forward tees).