Bahia Palace

Bahia Palace

Located close to Riad Orange, the  Bahia Palace is one of Marrakech’s biggest attractions and attracts hundreds to thousands of visitors every day. Next to the gardens of  Majorelle,  the most photographed place of the Red City.

Walk under the horseshoe arch and you will be surrounded by orange and jasmine trees, cypressand various flowers and plants. The reception committee, the chirping sparrows, welcome you!

The layout of the 150 rooms on 2 hectares surface seems to be an incoherent whole and does not correspond to the image that exists of a classic palace, such as  Versailles. Yet there is a reason for this: it is precisely the intention to deceive intruders! The same goes for the small alleys in the medina that deliberately let the enemy get lost, if the city were to be taken. Maar the palace is also decorated in this way, to take away the view of the harem.

The Bahia Palace is an amalgamation of the best Moroccan and  Andalusian  architecture. Although the palace is still in the possession of the Royal Family, it is open to thepublic. The enormous interest originated in the last century, among others by  Edith  Wharton. She is known as the first female writer to receive the Pullitzer  Prize in 1921. In the last days of World War I she travelled with an auto Marrakech, where she was invited by the French General Lyautey to stay in the Bahia Palace.   In her travel journal ‘InMorocco’she describes it as follows:  “They came, they built the Bahia, and it remains the loveliest and most fantastic of Moroccan palaces”. This gave the palace an attraction to adventurers and later the tourists who visited the city.

The splendor of the Bahia Palace

Behind the gates of the Bahia  Palace lies a true liefdes story!

In the 19th century, Si Moussa was the chamberlain of the reigning Sultan. Through his commitment, loyalty and good work, the dear chamberlain is promoted to Grand Vizier(Prime  Minister). This honorable task  anda piece of land on former olivegroves  await him in Marrakech.

Meanwhile, a young woman Ba Hammad grows up near Marrakech. She belongs to a powerful tribe from the region and is widely respected for her wisdom. One day, her father decides that they are going to leave the countryside for a life in the city of Marrakech. She is the right person to be able to arrange the family affairs indoors with inner peace in their cityhome.

During a walk through the city, the roads of Si Moussa and Ba Hammad cross each other. The grand vizier is immediately  captivated by her beauty. A harmonious marriage results from it, despite the fact that the grand vizier marries 3 other women and has a harem of at a minimum of24 women. In this household, too, she knows how to manage things in the palace with her gentle hand and wisdom. The story tells that she was his most beloved wife. And because of her inner and outer beauty, she was affectionately called Bahia, whichmeans “De Schitterende”.  Perhaps it is a myth that the palace is named after her. Nevertheless, the name remains appropriately chosen when it comes to the architectural beauty that the palace exudes.

What is it now?

Today, the palace is empty and the furniture, artwork and carpets are distributed among the family. Yet, if you walk around in the different rooms, you  can easily recall the bygone wealth. Because of the emptiness you also have a good view of the beautiful zellige floors and walls, the mosaic walls and  the hand-painted cedar ceilings. The grand vizier had an eye for beauty and perhaps also for the good life. The apartments were all  createdaround courtyards on the ground floor, because he could not walk stairs due to his size.

All materials used come from Morocco, except for the marble floors and fountains. These areportedfrom Italy. Another element also has a foreign influence and that is the fireplaces. At night and in winter, temperatures can drop considerably due to the cool airflow from the Atlas Mountains. General Lyautey had fireplaces placed in the style  of the palace and in this way introduced a degree of  European comfort.

You can visit the palace without aguide. Ifyou want to know more about the palace, we will be happy to arrange a guided tour for you. More information can be received via info@riad-orange.com.

Insider tip!  Near the Bahia Palace, good restaurants can be found for a delicious lunch or dinner. A nice place to watch the sunset is from the roof terrace of the Kosybar.

Insider tip! The best time to visit the palace is early in the morning at 09:00, because the large groups of tourists have not yet arrived. Another quiet moment is around 4 o’clock and  then the light is beautiful for taking beautiful photos.

 

Bahia Palace

Opening hours: Open daily from 09.00 – 16.45

Entrance fee: 70 dh??

Adres: Riad Zitoun el Jedid Street