Attraction
Jardin Majorelle
Jacques Majorelle's cobalt-blue villa and cactus garden, later owned by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, with a museum of Amazigh culture inside the villa.
Saadian Tombs
The late 16th-century burial complex of the Saadian sultan Ahmad al-Mansur and his family, walled off for centuries and opened to visitors in 1917.
At a glance
- Type
- Royal necropolis
- Area
- Kasbah, Marrakech, Morocco
Good to know
- Gardens
- Mausoleum chambers
Why we recommend it
Ahmad al-Mansur, who ruled Morocco from 1578 to 1603, built this royal necropolis beside the Kasbah Mosque, and he was buried here in 1603. Several later Saadian rulers and family members followed, along with courtiers and servants buried in the garden. After the dynasty fell, the tombs were walled off and largely forgotten, and it was only in 1917 that the French protectorate's fine arts service restored the site and opened it to the public.
The complex is small, made up of a garden scattered with tiled graves and two main mausoleum buildings. The highlight is the Chamber of the Twelve Columns, a square hall about twelve metres high. Twelve Carrara marble columns, grouped in threes, support marble muqarnas arches, and the craftsmen blended marble and stucco so skilfully that the join is hard to spot. The central cedar cupola, painted in red and gold, sits above the tombs of al-Mansur and two of his successors.
Visitors look into the chamber from a doorway rather than walking inside, so a short queue forms at busy times. The second mausoleum, containing the tomb of al-Mansur's mother, Lalla Mas'uda, is simpler but still finely decorated. The whole visit takes thirty to forty-five minutes, which makes it easy to combine with other sights. It is a peaceful, compact site that suits most visitors, including families.
The tombs are one of the most popular stops on organised tours, so arriving at opening time or later in the afternoon pays off. Opening hours can vary during Ramadan, so check locally before you go. Expect stone paths and some steps.
The site is reached through a narrow passage beside the Kasbah Mosque, close to the Bab Agnaou gate, about fifteen minutes' walk south of Jemaa el-Fnaa. El Badi Palace is a short walk away, and the Mellah and the Bahia Palace are within reach on foot, so it fits well into a morning in the southern medina. Petits taxis can drop you at Bab Agnaou, the decorated Almohad gate a minute away. Ignore anyone who tells you the tombs are closed and offers to show you somewhere else instead, a common trick in this area.
Saadian Tombs FAQs
Who is buried in the Saadian Tombs?
Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur, who died in 1603, together with later Saadian rulers and members of the family.
When were the tombs rediscovered?
They were restored and opened to the public in 1917, after centuries walled off.
Can you go inside the Chamber of the Twelve Columns?
No. Visitors look in from the doorway, which can create a short queue.
How long should you allow?
Thirty to forty-five minutes is enough for the garden and both mausoleums.
When is the best time to visit?
At opening time or later in the afternoon, outside the peak tour-group hours.
How do you find the entrance?
It is reached by a narrow passage beside the Kasbah Mosque, near Bab Agnaou.
What is nearby?
El Badi Palace, the Mellah and the Bahia Palace are all within walking distance.