The Marrakech Holiday Guide: for services, attractions, eating out, accommodation & shopping.
The district quarter of the Imperial Kasbah
'The Kasbah is a very safe, friendly area … much more open and less congested than the areas surrounding the main square of Marrakech.'
A Place in the Sun, November 2005
The Kasbah was in origin a citadel and has been continually occupied by the Sultans of Morocco since the twelfth century. Consequently this website focuses within the vicinity of the splendid palaces and magnificent monuments built by the Sultans. The Bab Agnaou is the most beautiful and impressive of the gates in the entire city ramparts; it was constructed in the twelfth century using local stone as the ceremonial entrance of the Sultans into the Kasbah. The gardens and pavilions of the Royal Palace begun by the present King's ancestors in the seventeenth century dominate the view to the East from roof terraces. The evocative ruins of the sixteenth century Badi Palace are also seen from the roof terraces and can be visited by taking a fascinating walk through the Kasbah's winding back streets.
Kasbah Community
The Bab Agnaou entrance, through the ramparts, is by far the most impressive entrance of all medina rampart entrances. This comes as no surprise when placed in context with the Kasbah.
The Kasbah was the first Citadel of the Sultans of Morocco, as such, Bab Agnaou is the historic posthumous entrance for Sultans, state visitors and their courtiers alike.
The Kasbah is home to the Royal Place, also the former El - Badi Palace and the Saadian Tombs (an exquisite burial site of past Sultants that was only rediscovered at the turn of the last century).
Inside the Kasbah one finds a stark contrast between that of the Djemaa-el-Fna at just a short walk away. The street stallholders are more accommodating and less insistent; there is an air of order, desernment and a lack of intimidation. This naturally creates better security, cleaner streets and a hint of being a special place within the medina.
The Kasbah has a good riad selection available to meet most budgets, the Kasbah also boasts three superb ryad converted hotels, La Sultana located next to the Saadian Tombs which is very close to Bab Agnaou. Les Jardins de la Medina and Les Borjs de la Kasbah are within a minute of each other at the southern, quiet, end of the Kasbah very close to the entrance to the Royal Palace and the Agdal Gardens.
A pleasant route to access the southern end of the Kasbah is to follow the outside rampart walls past Bab Aguenaou and Bab er-Rob gates until you get to Bab Ksiba, which is easily recognised by the huge eucalyptus tree on it’s left hand side. This route has a second advantage in the winter months as it gives you an un-hindered view of the snow capped Mighty Atlas Mountains which lay due south of the Kasbah at the end of the Ourika valley.
From Bab Ksiba (the taxi drivers pronounce Bab Lak-siba if you simply want to visit) walk streight, then left at the end, then right and within 100 meters you will find yourself at the far end of Rue de la Kasbah which runs parallel to the outside walls and will take you back to Bab Aganou and past the Saadian Tombs. The Kasbah has it’s own little bazzars (Souikas), food stalls, restaurants, hotels and riads for travellers to enjoy.
The Guardian, January 2009
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