Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Saadian Tombs
This is the secluded burial place of a dynasty noted by novelist Edith Wharton
for its “barbarous customs but sensuous refinements”. The 66 royal tombs
that are housed here date from the late-16th and early-17th centuries, but
were unknown to the outside world until the 1920s, when they were revealed
by the curiosity of a French official. The complex may be modest in size but
it is beautifully decorated in the Alhambran style with plenty of carved cedar,
stucco and polychromic tiling. The tombs have three main burial chambers
that are ranged around a small garden.
Top 10 Features
1 Saadian Dynasty
2 Entranceway
3 Prayer Hall
4 Hall of Twelve Columns
5 Main Chamber
6 The Garden
7 Kasbah Mosque
8 Morning Market
9 Rue de Kasbah
0 Centre Artisanal
!
Saadian Dynasty
Ornate doorways
This is a very small
site, easily crowded
by the presence of
just a single tour
group. Visit early
morning or late
afternoon for the
best chance of
avoiding the crush.
(1549-1668)
Setting out from their
powerbase in Taroudant, to
the south of the Atlas
Mountains, the Saadians
defeated the ruling Merenids
of Fès. Having established
their court at Marrakech,
they revitalized the city,
endowing it with grand monu-
ments. They were in power
for less than 120 years.
The Sultana Hotel
(see p116)
next door
has a good rooftop
terrace restaurant
open to the public
for lunch and dinner.
Main Chamber
£
Prayer Hall
The first chamber,
intended as a place of
prayer, now contains
tombs. Most of them are
not from the Saadian era,
but date back to the
Alouite rulers' era.
• Map J6
• Saadian Tombs: Rue
de Kasbah, Medina;
Open 8:30am-11:45am,
2:30pm-5:45pm daily;
Adm 10 Dh
• Centre Artisanal: 7
derb Baissi Kasbah, off
Rue de la Kasbah; 0524
38 18 53; Open 8:30am-
8pm daily; MC, V
accepted
@
Entranceway
Reached via the
narrowest of twisting
passageways
(above)
, the
tombs remained a closely-
guarded secret for centuries.
Even today, visiting retains
an element of discovery
for tourists.
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