Imperial Rabat, from the Kasbah to Chellah

• Historical
• Heritage
• Architecture
• Religious

This self-guided tour brings together all the places open to visitors in Rabat, Morocco's capital and a UNESCO World Heritage city, and in Salé, across the Bou Regreg. The Kasbah of the Oudayas, with its blue-and-white lanes and its Andalusian garden, overlooks the mouth of the Bou Regreg. The medina, the Andalusian town founded by the Moriscos in the 17th century, opens at Bab El Had and leads to Consuls Street, now mostly known for its crafts. The esplanade of the Hassan Tower, an unfinished 12th-century minaret, faces the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. Bab Rouah, a finely carved Almohad gate, and the Almohad ramparts recall the great capital project launched in the 12th century. From the Mechouar esplanade you see the gate of the Royal Palace, which is closed to the public; Chellah is a Marinid necropolis built on the remains of the Roman town of Sala. The museums complete the visit: the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the Museum of History and Civilizations and the National Museum of Photography, in Fort Rottembourg (all closed on Tuesdays), as well as the National Library. In Salé, the Marinid madrasa can be visited and the Great Mosque is seen from outside. The duration shown adds up visits and travel: spread the tour over several days. Between districts, walk or take a petit taxi. Opening hours for each site are shown in the app: check them before you set off.