| El Bahia Palace tips and photos posted by real travelers and Marrakesh locals. • 119 Photos
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This 19th century Palace is well worth a visit (I ended up making 2 visits, once independently, once (unintended) as part of a guided tour)
Its name translates as 'The Brilliant'
The attractive, well preserved, Harem Courtyard has featured in many Big Budget Movies.
Part of the palace is closed to visitors as it is still used by the Royal family and their staff.
The Bahia Palace was home to the Grand Vizier of Sultan Moulay al - Hassan, Si' Ahmed ben Musa or Bou Ahmed. It was built towards the end of the 19th century, taking nearly 15 years to complete. Following the death of Bou Ahmed, the Palace was Ransacked Restoration work is still ongoing !
The rooms (nearly 150!), housed Ba Ahmed, his 4 wives and 24 concubines plus servants and guards.
The Palace follows the patterns of typical Islamic architecture, with central courtyards, having rooms leading off, with doorways that are placed so that you can't see beyond (providing privacy) Fountains and gardens are also typical features, along with the decorative stucco panels, tiled floors and zellij work (see my next tip for more details)
To view the palace, there are arrows guiding you through the various rooms.
Open 08.30 - 11.15 and 14.30 -17.45 Sat - Thur
08.30 - 11.30 and 15.00 - 17.45 Fri.
Admission 10dh Leave a Comment Address: Bahia Palace,Riad Zitoun el JedidDirections: To the East of DEF, In the Mellah area. From Palais el Badi, head NE from Place des Ferblantiers. Just head in the direction, someone will show you (for a price!) or get a taxi.
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I visited the Bahia Palace twice, once planned, the second time unintentionally as part of a guided tour (see my Warnings and dangers tips) but I didn't mind too much as it is an interesting place and I did learn a bit more.
Our guide kept saying what I thought at first was "See the wood", so I was looking up at the intricately painted ceiling, thinking what wood? but then realised he was actually saying Cedar wood! the artwork was painted over the highly prized cedar wood! (doh!) As You can see from my pictures, the artwork is quite stunning.
Besides the painted cedar wood, The Bahia Palace has some good examples of stucco panels, Zellij tilework and stained glass windows. (Please see my photos below) Leave a Comment Address: See previous tipDirections: See Previous tip
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One of the best preserved palaces of Marrakech, el Bahia Palace is not to be missed. It was built in the late 19th century by a vizier to the sultan and expanded by the acquisition of neighbouring houses, which resulted in a labyrinth of corriders and chambers. While not terribly ancient, the palace is decorated in traditional Moroccan motifs, but does not follow the typical plan of a riad. The palace contains a grand harem, the women's quarters, which apparently was needed for the vizier's four wives and many concubines! Directions: Next to Mellah neighbourhood, not far from rue Riad ez-Zitoun
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The Bahia Palace, built in the late 19th century, is a superb example of Moroccan-Islamic architecture. The layout of the complex, with its courtyards and mazes of rooms, is typical of the style. The palace has been well restored and maintained, and its gorgeous tiles and carvings are quite impressive. Leave a Comment Address: Riad Ztoun Jdid
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Builded at the end of XIX of great influence of andalucian art, this superwonderful and incredible beautiful palace is an example of what you can find after a normal wall and normal door ...
This first patio, with orange trees and a beautiful andalucian floor is a dream.
20 Dirham.
8:30 - 11:45, 14:30 - 17:45 Leave a Comment Address: Riad Zitoun JedidDirections: Medina
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This great patio was use by the women of the palace. Is where they use to have their place to walk. This patio is surrounding by more womans rooms and at one of it sides you can fin another patio that was the access to the palace for men and children. Separated this two patios by a door and wood windows that where closed by the side of men. Leave a Comment Directions: Medina
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Each room have ist own incredible work in arcs, ceiling, walls and floors ... One very special room is the favorite's room. She was not the favorite because it was really the favorite for the sultan ... but because she was the first to have given the sultan a boy. This woman was the only to have more than one member at her service, and the windows of her room had grates to protect her of the envies of the other women. Leave a Comment Directions: medina
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One of the most pleasing design features of this palace is the views it gives from one space into another. Often, you can stand in one spot and have your eyes drawn through several perfectly-placed doorways that frame an architectural feature beyond. Leave a Comment
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Don’t miss this beautiful palace. It’s another good example of Moroccan architecture (decoration with tiles, fountains, carved-ceddar ceilings, gardens).
Entrance fee : 10 Dh (+/- 1 euro)
Sat.-Thur. : 8:30-11:15 a.m. and 2:30-5:45 p.m., Fri : 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 3:00-5:45 p.m. Leave a Comment Address: Rue Riad Zitoun Djedid
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I just adore the Bahia Palace and make a point of going on each trip.
Whilst is it invariably overcrowded and a little run down, the architecture is great and there's a very friendly resident tortoishell cat.
What I love most about it is its tangible connection to Edith Wharton, one of my favourite writers. She stayed as a guest in the harem when the palace was still used as a residence. She talks about her stay in "In Morocco" and, following her description, you can easily work out in which room she stayed.
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