Bahia’s palace

Bahia Palace is one of Marrakech’s highlights! Built at the end of the 19th century, this palace was designed with the aim of becoming the most beautiful, largest and most important palace of its time. Its interior is therefore astonishing.

Its construction began in 1866 under Si Moussa, Grand Vizier to Sultan Hassan I, and was subsequently extended by his son Ahmed ben Moussa, who lived there with his four wives, children and harem of 24 concubines. If translated into English, the palace is called the Beauty Palace, a reference to the name of his favourite wife. It took more than ten years to complete this masterpiece of Moorish architecture, designed to satisfy the desires of the Vizier’s wives.

I recommend a visit if you have some spare time: the interior features 160 rooms richly decorated with paintings, mosaics and tiles, a gigantic patio, stunning gardens with orange, banana, palm, jasmine, lilac trees, hammams, stables and a multitude of courtyards.

On the death of the Vizier, the palace was plundered by the new sultan and subsequently abandoned. In 1912, at the beginning of the French protectorate in Morocco, it became the official residence of General Lyautey, who added heating, electricity and fireplaces.

Although the rooms are now empty due to looting, the palace remains remarkably well-preserved and boasts decorations designed by the best Moroccan craftsmen of the time that are definitely worth a visit. An essential visit to discover one of the finest examples of Arab-Andalusian architecture!