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.
Dar El Bacha – Musée des Confluences
The 1910 palace of Pasha Thami El Glaoui, restored as a national museum of cultural exchange, with richly decorated rooms and the Bacha Coffee salon.
At a glance
- Type
- Palace museum
- Area
- Medina (Bab Doukkala), Marrakech, Morocco
Good to know
- Courtyard garden
- Bacha Coffee on site
Why we recommend it
Dar El Bacha, the house of the pasha, was built in 1910 and became the residence of Thami El Glaoui, appointed pasha of Marrakech in 1912. For decades under the French protectorate he was the most powerful figure in southern Morocco, and his palace hosted a stream of politicians, writers and celebrities. Morocco's national museums foundation restored the building, and King Mohammed VI inaugurated it in 2017 as the Musée des Confluences.
The museum's theme is the meeting of cultures and religions in Moroccan history, explored through changing exhibitions that draw on archaeological objects, manuscripts, textiles and art. The displays are compact and well presented, and they provide context for much of what you see elsewhere in the medina.
For many visitors, though, the building is the main event. The central courtyard garden, with fountains, citrus trees and tiled paths, is surrounded by reception rooms decorated with painted wooden ceilings, carved stucco and zellij of very high quality. It is one of the best places in the city to see early 20th-century palace craftsmanship in good condition. Allow an hour for the museum and garden at an unhurried pace.
The palace also houses Bacha Coffee, which occupies a period salon and serves a long list of Arabica coffees. It is extremely popular, reservations are not taken and the wait can run to a couple of hours at busy times. If you want both, arrive early, put your name down for the café and explore the museum while you wait. Museum opening times can change, so confirm them locally before you go.
Dar El Bacha is on the western side of the medina, on the route between Mouassine and Bab Doukkala, about fifteen minutes' walk from Jemaa el-Fnaa. The Mouassine quarter is a short walk east, and Dar Yacout and Riad Kniza are in the surrounding lanes, so the area works well for a half-day of sightseeing followed by dinner. Petits taxis can reach Bab Doukkala and drop you within a short walk of the entrance. The area is quieter than the central souks, which makes it pleasant to explore on foot after your visit.
Dar El Bacha – Musée des Confluences FAQs
Who lived in Dar El Bacha?
It was the residence of Thami El Glaoui, pasha of Marrakech from 1912.
What is the Musée des Confluences?
The national museum housed in the palace since 2017, focused on cultural and religious exchange in Moroccan history.
When was the palace built?
In 1910.
Is Bacha Coffee inside the museum?
Yes. The café occupies a salon of the palace and is reached through the museum.
Can you book Bacha Coffee?
No. Tables are allocated through a waiting list on the day, so arrive early.
How long should you allow?
About an hour for the museum and courtyard, plus any wait for the café.
What is nearby?
Le Jardin Secret and the Mouassine quarter are a short walk east.