Ben Youssef Madrasa
In the northern part of the medina, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, one of the largest madrasa of the Maghreb, is a historic Islamic school.
Built in the 14th century by the Marinid Sultan Abu Inan Faris, this madrasa was once the largest Islamic school in North Africa and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It was originally built as a religious school for Islamic studies, but it also served as a mosque and a library.
The madrasa was expanded in the 16th century by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur, who added a large courtyard and a minaret.
In the 18th century it was abandoned and forgotten.
In the 19th century, it was restored by the Alaouite Sultan Moulay Hassan I and reopened as an Islamic school.
It is an impressive example of Moroccan architecture.
The building is made of red sandstone and is decorated with intricate geometric patterns and carved stucco. The main entrance is a large archway that leads into a large courtyard surrounded by two levels of arched galleries. The galleries are decorated with colourful tiles and carved stucco and lead to various classrooms and prayer halls. The minaret is also decorated with intricate carvings and is topped with a green-tiled dome.
Designed on a quadrilateral plan of 1680 m2, the madrassa included 130 student rooms distributed over two floors around a courtyard on which the prayer room is located.
Today, the Madrasa stands as a preserved monument to the culture and history of Marrakesh and definitely deserves a visit for anyone exploring the city. It's about a 10mn walk from the Djemaa el Fna square.
It opens daily from 9 am to 6 pm.
Public rate: 93 DH for Adults (about 10€)
Негізгі бет Ben Youssef Madrasa in Marrakech, Morrocco
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