Tourist Pages

Rabat - Morocco

Rabat Photo Gallery

Don't miss the wonderful Morocco Photo Gallery by Victor Ovies

Rabat symbolises the infinite variety of Morocco. Set in a rich, amber coloured landscape, dotted with distinctive nettle trees, it elegantly combines an ancient history with modern culture. The Kingdom's capital, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, has roots buried deep in a millennium of history-a city so often coveted by invaders in search of a strategic retreat. Yacoub El Mansour, the Almohad, erected his tents there in the 12th century, before the Merinids left their stamp there in their turn, raising the necropolis of Chellah upon the ancient Roman city of Salé. In the heart of the city stands the Tour Hassan, the last vestige of an unfinished mosque. Behind its marble columns, the Mohammed V Mausoleum engenders solemn respect and serene contemplation. Built on the banks of the Bou Regreg estuary, Rabat offers its visitors numerous flower-decked walks within earshot of the Ocean. The many fine edifices enclosed within its walls bear ample witness to its proud history as an imperial city. In the maze of streets making up the Oudaïas Kasbah, Islamic art rubs shoulders with the modern city. The result is a glittering mosaic, enchanting passers-by and answering to their every want. Facing the city on the opposite side of the Oued, the superb white medina of Salé - Sala Al Jadida - is a treasure - house of fine artwork.

About a million people live in the capital Rabat and its sister city Sale, but wandering around the Medina, the Kasbah or the Modern Town this is not the impression you get. Life is easy. Not many people harass you. Shop owners are very nice.  For this reason Rabat is a good first base to start exploring Morocco. You can get in touch with life the Moroccan way at your own pace.  Watch the changing of the Royal Guard at the Royal Palace (Friday mornings) walk the narrow streets of the Casbah des Oudaya and visit the 12th-century Tour Hassan.  Several other interesting sights should be visited if time permits. Chief among these are Bouknadel and its Jardins Exotiques (fascinating gardens) and Chellah which has interesting museums a 17th-century fortress and Roman ruins. And don’t neglect Rabat’s sister city Sale with its Grand Mosque, city gates, markets, small back streets and harbour filled with fishing boats. You might also consider going to the beach in Rabat, although the beaches south of the city are somewhat better than those in town itself.