Places not to miss during your visit: The Andalusian garden
The Kasba of the Oudayas
Within less than five minutes walk from Dar Al Miraaj stands the Casbah of the Oudayas at the Bou Regreg estuary, a real fortress dating back to the XII century. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Kasbah of the Oudayas has become for both Moroccans and world artists a haven of peace and inspiration. Visitors are seduced by the site’s beauty and calm.
With its monumental Almohade portal, the Kasbah is a gripping site which offers the visitor a never seen before beauty that encompasses the Andalusian style garden, a museum, some riyads and very old mosques. The Andalusian influence is omnipresent with the uniformly lime covered walls, the dominant blue colored doors and the wrought iron windows.
The Kasbah’s greatest attraction remains the famous Moorish Café which can be acceded to through the winding streets. The café is a place not to be missed where a mint tea can be enjoyed along with some tasty almond sweets. With the awesome ocean view it offers at the Bou Regreg estuary, the Casbah remains a highly recommended space for relaxation where rowing boats can be seen moving to and fro between the two river banks.
Explore the medina one narrow alleys at a time and and immerse yourself in the history of the kingdom
The Medina - Discover the moorish-andalusian spirit and heritage
With the Almohade Dynasty (XII Century) the Rabat site is going to start a unique historical journey of transformation. In 1609, the Moriscos who were chased away from Spain during the Reconquista started to establish massively in Rabat, which gave the city a new vitality and dynamism. The new comers occupied the present location of the Medina which they endowed with a new enclosure they would henceforth call «the Andalusian Wall », and which took the name of the new Sala (Salé).
Head to the medina, a historic district teeming with all sorts of stands. Work your way through a maze of themed alleys to discover different trades and skills. In Souk Sebbat and Souika streets, the stalls are bursting with leather goods, slippers and bags, fabrics and traditional clothing. Push on to Rue des Consuls to ogle silver jewelry and the famous Rabat carpets that have sealed the city's reputation. The local cuisine is also worthy of your attention: Moroccan pastries, spices and myriad local foods will delight your taste buds.
Embroidery is another art form for which Rabat's artisans are especially well known. They apply their virtuosity to silk brocade, chiffon, cotton and linen, creating gorgeous fabrics that can be used for anything from upholstery to traditional garments like caftans.
Visit a moorish architecture hidden treasure protected by the Moroccan Ministry of Culture
Dar Mrini, one of the most beautiful specimen of pure moroccan architecture - A real gem
Dar Lamrini, located north of the medina of Rabat, was built in the year 1339 H / 1920 as indicated by the date carved on the volute of the door of the main entrance.
The entire building occupies a floor area of 544 m2, the main door leads to a curved vestibule, with traditional columns on both sides. This entrance is rich in decor, benches are covered with polychrome zellige, carved patterns on plaster, the ceiling is painted wood.
The central courtyard is square and is surrounded by four rooms on each of the four facades with polychrome zellige paneling surmounted by engraved plaster registers.
Two staircases bring the visitors to the first floor with a gallery surrounded by balustrade above the courtyard. The east side of the floor is occupied by a large room called masriya, which is richly decorated and has six windows. This room is flanked in the north end of an antechamber delimited by a large panel of painted and carved wood.
The Bouregreg river waterfront promenade will offer you breathtaking views of Rabat and Salé
The Bourgreg River
It is in the Oued Bouregreg that Rabat and Salé owe their birth, more than twenty centuries ago. The Bouregreg river was called in antiquity, Oued Sala (the salty river), it is only in the XIIIth century that it becomes Bouregreg, from "regrag" meaning "gravel" in Berber but historians are still debating on the origine of the name. It is on the banks of the Bouregreg that the Beni Achara family founded the city of Salé in the 11th century and was even the capital of the Emir Tamin Empire of Ifrane.
Rabat and Salé owe everything to the Bouregreg, thanks to him Rabat had the largest river port of Morocco in the early twentieth century, and this port was the only Moroccan port that could supply the country from the XV to the XVIII century, as most of the other ports in Morocco were either under the control of Spain, Portugal or Great Britain. It was through the pressure of those cities and the Republic of the Pirates that transactions were made possible for the whole of Morocco and that treaties were negotiated between the European states and the Sherifian kingdom. It was through trade and the race war that the estuary of Bou Regreg became during this long period, the great port of North-Morocco which exported leather, wool, ostrich feathers, copper, fruits and received mostly sheets, velvets, cottons and canvases
An icon of Morocco: The Hassan tower
The Hassan Tower
The Hassan Tower is considered as the symbol of Rabat and one of the most iconic sites of the kingdom. The Almohad sultan Yacoub Al Mansour (12th century) ordered its construction with the vocation to become the largest mosque in the Muslim world.
At the death of the sultan in the year 1199, the construction stopped. Unfortunately the devastating earthquake of Lisbon in 1755 destroyed most of the edifice. Only its minaret of 44 meters high survived and gave its name to the monument, the Hassan Tower. The Hassan tower or Minaret, the Koutoubia mosque of Marrakech and the Giralda mosque of Sevilla share the exact same architecture.
Garden of Hassan Tower offers one of the best panoramic view
Discover the dynamic Moroccan scene of modern art either during early morning hours or in the afternoon to escape the summer hot temperatures
Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
The emergence of a dynamic new art scene in Morocco reflects its natural cultural curiosity. The Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art opened in 2004 and is dedicated to showcase both Moroccan modern art artists while also providing a platform of exchange through hosting international exhibitions of world-renowned artists such as Goya, Giacometti, Picasso, Cesar or Delacroix. H.H Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco is not only a passionate collector of art but is also a supportive patron of contemporary art in the Kingdom of Morocco and in the African continent.
A unique space of cultural interaction and immersion
Certainly one of the most impressive and mysterious sights of all Morocco
The Chellah
If you find yourself in Rabat, do not hesitate to take the 10 minutes taxi ride to the Chellah and just enjoy one morning wandering around the Chellah ruins by ourselves. You will experience a peaceful experience.
The necropolis of Chellah is also a UNESCO world heritage site that not only contains remains of Roman arches, aqueducts, and columns, but also displays ancient Muslim royal tombs, ornamental fountains, and a mosque surrounded with a mysterious garden and hundreds of storks that have built their massive nests on top of the prayer tower, walls and trees. The site was initially the Phoenician trading port of “Sala” that later became a Roman colony before being converted into a Muslim fortress in the 11th century.
The Chellah is not only one of the oldest human settlements in Morocco, but remains a spectacular sight for all the visitor discovering the complex, multi-layered history and cultures of Morocco.
The passion of a king and one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world
Dar Es Salam Royal Golf Club
Dar Es Salam Royal Golf Club extends over 1000 acres of amazing landscape at the very heart of a cork oak forest. Nature is very generous everywhere and the design of the holes offers a great quality of the courses, and greens with a variety of technical difficulties for golf lovers and true true connoisseurs.
The 18-holes Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course is part of the 45-holes Dar Es Salam layout that is located only half and hour away from Dar AL Miraaj.
The 18-holes red course, one of the most beautiful courses in the world and is intended for professionals. It extends its demanding 18 holes, Par 73, over 6,702 meters. Fans will find it one of the biggest challenges in their passionate life.
The 18-holes blue course, Par 72 of 6205 meters, very entertaining, technical with fast, wavy greens and hectic fairways. It’s a real course redesigned to be played every day.
The 9-holes green course is much more entertaining. It is intended for a short game and offers 9 holes, Par 32, of 2170 meters.
Practical information
Dar Es Salam Royal Golf Club is open every day from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM and is closed on Mondays
Dar Es Salam Royal Golf Club, KM 9, avenue Mohammed VI / route des Zaers Souissi, Rabat - Morocco
Telephone: +212 537 755 864 / +212 537 754 692 / +212 537 754 693
Fax: +212 537 757 671