Marrakesh City Guide | El-Badi palace

Latest articles in Monuments

Djemâa el-Fna squareDjemâa el-Fna, at the heart of the Marrakesh Medina. The night-time entertainment of this mythical square amazes the most blasé of travellers. The several traditional festivities, stalls, restaurants or famous water-sellers make the Djemâa el Fna a must to visit.

The Djemâa el Fna square is an inescapable place in Marrakesh. A real central route of the Marrakesh Medina, it enables to take in the proliferation of life and activities that characterise the imperial town. The charm of the Djemâa el Fna square comes from the multitude of street-artists, stalls of dried fruit or orange juice freshly-pressed before you, and the multitude of small restaurants that take over its centre from early evening, and contribute to the scent of its surroundings. In the morning, you can taste excellent pancakes at the Toubkal café, at midday, you can take in the sun on the terrace of the Café de France and in the evening, you can take advantage of the dozens of musical and artistic shows there. At nightfall, a colourful crowd converges towards Djemâa el Fna in order to benefit from the coolness of the evening while watching family shows.

El-Badi palace

The “incomparable palace” was built in 1578; some remnants of its magnificent past remain.

The decision to build Dar el-Badi, the “incomparable palace” was taken by the Saadian Sovereign Ahmed el-Mansour as a celebration after his victory against the Portuguese army during the Battle of the Three Kings in 1578. The construction of this sumptuous palace lasted from 1578 to 1603. The richest materials were used to decorate the 360 rooms of the princely complex.

Enormous private apartments lined the large interior courtyard, richly decorated with ponds. A sublime hall dedicated to official audiences and ceremonies also had pride of place in its centre.

The magnificence of the el-Badi palace is now old history. It fell victim to the desires of the sovereign of the Alaouite dynasty, Moulay Ismaïl, who banished all Saadian heritage. Nowadays, there are the bare remains of a large esplanade hollowed out with ponds surrounded by high walls. Its only inhabitants are now a couple of storks who have set up home there.

Practical information | EL-BADI PALACE

PALAIS EL-BADI
Kasbah
Marrakech

Open every day from 8h45 to 12h45 and from 14h30 to 18h30 .
Entrance fee : 10 dirhams for the palace and 20 dirhams for a visit including the minbar room.

PM Coupry | Marrakesh City Guide

À lire sur ce sujet :

Derniers articles :

Latest articles in Monuments

Djemâa el-Fna square

Koutoubia mosque

Menara

print | send | next... ...back