Marrakech Museum, Marrakesh

Musee de Marrakech was a former palace. Inside the museum are archaeological and ethnographic objects, contemporary art and historic documents. I loved the mosaic tile work, the intricate carvings, and the arches.

Be sure to stop for some mint tea in the courtyard!

Open 9-6:30

This museum is a litle disappointing. It is in an old mosque, where the building itself is more interesting than the displays inside. There are a few pictures in frames on the wall, a display of swords that look like they were bought in the souk and a few pieces of old clothes. It takes about 9 minutes to walk through it all. I would say you can easily skip it, but if you buy the combo ticket, which is a much better deal than buying the seperate entrance fees, you might as well stroll through for a few minutes. The fee for the museum alone is 40 dirham, but the fee for three sites (the Medersa, the musuem and an archealogical site- all situated next to each other) is 60 dirham.

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This early 20th century palace, is worth seeing. Recently it has been restored, and turned into a museum of Moroccan art, and a gallery for exhibiting paintings and sculpture.

You can purchase a ticket from here for 50dh, that also covers entrance to Ben Yousseff Medersa, and the Quabba Almoravide- worth buying.

Entering through the gateway, you enter a pleasant courtyard, with a cafe, a shop selling artwork, and some pieces of artwork displayed.

Time for a mint tea, and a welcome sit down under a cooling umbrella, I decided! I'd spent quite a long while in Ben Yousseff, then there was still the Quabba to see.

Tip - check out the toilets just off the courtyard! - walls tiled in Islamic style tiles, and old bronze fittings.

I enjoyed this museum, it was quite a relaxing place to wander and admire the exhibits, but to also enjoy the architecture of the palace. Piped classical music was playing in some rooms. It wasn't too large either.

There is a plan of the museum, and some directions to the various rooms.

Contemporary and older paintings, important collections of coins, old books, ornately decorated Korans, jewellery and daggers were some of the exhibits.

Open daily 0900 - 18.00hrs.

If planning to buy the 50dh ticket, this is the only place with refreshments.
Afraid I can't remember the admission price for this place alone - probably about 20dh.

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The Marrakech Museum is housed in the Dar M’Nebhi Palace. It was renovated and opened in the year 1997 by Omar Benjelloun - a Moroccan arts patron. The palace was built in the late 19th century for defence minister Mehdi Mnebb. It is a perfect example of Moroccan architecture with a traditional courtyard in the middle of the building.
The museum offers a collection of Moroccan artefacts as well of contemporary art.

Absolutely highlight of the museum is the huge inner courtyard, now covered with a tent-like ceiling of fabrics, which provides a kind of mysterious light to the room. It has a massive brass lamp above the floor with fantastic zellij tile work and the three marble fountains. One side has beautiful pillars, while the other offers a couple of beautiful tiled tubs. The side rooms, with painted wooden ceilings and stuccowork, display the artefacts like jewellery, garments, carpets, coins, ceramics and even a very old Berber door.
Along the walls of the courtyard we found a couple of chairs and the best thing we did: sitting for a while and just enjoying this stunning place.

The palace also has still an original hamman (bathroom) and the former kitchen with a very nice fountain of zellij tiles. The outer courtyard, just behind the entrance gate, has a nice café and a (book)shop.

Opening hours: every day 9.00 am – 6.30pm.
Entrance fee (Dec. 2007): just for the museum 30 Dirhams, but there is a combined ticket for the Museum, Ben Youssef Medersa and Almovarid Koubba for just 60 Dirhams

The Museum of Marrackech is located in the medina in a 19th-century palace and displays a large collection of Jewish, Berber and Muslim artifacts - mainly ceramics, jewellery, traditional weapons, garments and uniforms. In all fairness the artifacts are not very exciting - but the museum is worth a visit for its stunningarchitecture - in particular for its huge covered courtyard.

This museum is privately owned - and the man behind it - Omar Benjelloun - is a well-known Moroccan businessman and art collector. Entrance (2007) used to be 30 dirhams.

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Just behind the entrance gate coming from the Place ben Youssef is a lovely and tranquil courtyard café. It's a nice place to drink a mint tea like we did. You can go there without buying a ticket for the museum. In the courtyard you can see posters of the actual and temporary exhibitions in the museum. There is also a bookshop selling posters, postcards and artbooks.

If you visit the museum (entrance 40 dirham), you can also decide to buy a joint ticket for 60 dirham. With this ticket you can visit not only the museum, but also the Almovarid Koubba opposite the museum and the Medersa ben Youssef, almost nextdoors. The opening hours of the museum are from 9am till 7pm.

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In the palace Dar Mnebdi (19th century) you can also see the original hamman. Why didn't it surprise me after seeing all the abundant decorations in the palace that even the walls of the hamman were nicily decorated with red colours.

Not only the decorations, but also the scale of the hamman shows that it belonged to one of the wealthiest families in Marrakech.

The other rooms in the museum display different collections like coins, ceramics, doors, jewelry and dresses.

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In the galleries around the central courtyard of the Marrakech Museum you will find temporary exhibitions. The displayed artworks are not only traditonal Morrocan art, but also contemporary art.

In 2007 I saw a nice exhibition of colourful paintings and artworks, showing a variety in technics and style. I always enjoy to look at contemporary artworks of local artists, because they show often a very interesting mixture of the local culture ~with or without using traditional symbols ~ and a modern style.