Bahia Palace
A place not be missed when visiting Marrakech
Built between 1866 and 1867 by Si Moussa, the palace is set over two acres, or 8.000 sq meters, in the middle of the Marrakech medina and it features 150 rooms, including a harem section located just off the Court of Honour.
Room after room the walls are decorated with stunning stuccos, the ceilings are absolutely amazing with their paintings and the mosaics are, as usual in Morocco, beautiful. These palaces always have a set of gardens with fountains.
This Bahia Palace was intended to be the greatest palace of its time. The name "Bahia" means in Arabic “brilliance".
Originally built for the personal use of Si Moussa, Grand Vizir of the Sultan Hassan I, a former slave who climbed the ranks.
The name Bahia was also the name of one of Si Moussa's wives. The harem, which includes a vast court decorated with a central basin, was surrounded by rooms that were intended for the concubines.
The palace was soon after occupied by his son Bou Ahmed. He came to power in 1894 when he managed to gain complete control over the state which lasted until his death in 1900. It was during Bou Ahmed’s reign that the brilliance of the Bahia palace was really enhanced with the addition of lush gardens, the small riad surrounding private gardens and each of the rooms decorated in truly elegant Moroccan style with carved stucco and cedarwood to decorate each of the rooms as it was the residence of Bou Ahmed, his four wives and several concubines.
- There are 4 rooms for his wives which are equal in size, meaning all 4 wives were equal in status;
the quarter for his 24 concubines, with 12 rooms to share.
- a dining room;
- the School, where his sons and daughters were taught by teachers which turned into a mosque 5 times a day for praying;
…and then there are Bou’s own quarters, where there was his summer room with windows and a winter room, smaller, without any windows, and of course his very own private dining room.
You can visit the traditional gardens with orange trees, fountains and the living quarters.
Beautifully zellig-tiled fireplaces and floors and colourful stained-glass windows create beautiful patterns in the afternoon sun, and the painted and carved cedarwood are just some of the most interesting features.
Bahia Palace was thought to be the first building in North Africa to use stained glass as a decorative feature.
Following Bou Ahmed’s death in 1900, it is said that the palace was ransacked and all valuables were removed.
With the arrival of the French in the early 1900s, the residents were forced to move out to make way for the Resident General.
When Morocco gained its independence from France in 1956, the palace was used as a royal residence until King Hassan II transferred it to the custody of the Moroccan Ministry of Culture, so the building could serve as a cultural icon and tourist attraction.
Definitely a priority visit when in Marrakech.
As a curiosity, in Portugal, during the 19th century there was, just like in other European countries, a revival of the Moorish style, intending to capture the essence of the Islamic and Moroccan style.
Nowadays it's open to the public and also used for exhibitions.
Do not miss it.
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