Palaces & Monuments
The Royal Palace (Dar el Makhzen): Gates & Mechouars
The king's Marrakech residence — monumental gates and vast parade squares in the Kasbah.
- Opening hours
- The mechouar squares are open ground; the palace interior is closed to the public
- Entry
- Free (exterior and squares only)
- Time needed
- 15–20 minutes
- Best time
- On the way between the Saadian Tombs and the Agdal Gardens
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Overview
The Dar el Makhzen is the King of Morocco's official residence in Marrakech, a vast walled complex filling much of the Kasbah quarter. As a working royal palace it's firmly closed to the public — but the enormous mechouar squares in front of it, framed by long ochre walls and monumental studded gates, are open ground, and they give a sense of the scale and ceremony of the Alaouite court that still uses the palace today.
The palace stands on the site of the original Almohad and Saadian royal city, and the present complex is largely of the Alaouite dynasty, endlessly extended and remodelled since the 18th and 19th centuries. Behind its walls lie courtyards, gardens, pavilions and reception halls used for royal business and ceremony when the king is in residence — but none of this is visitable, and the guards discourage lingering or photography too close to the gates.
What visitors actually experience are the mechouars: the great open squares that precede the palace, designed for military parades, the swearing of allegiance and royal processions. Ringed by crenellated walls and pierced by grand gates with heavy studded doors and carved surrounds, they are impressive in their emptiness and scale, and they connect the string of Kasbah monuments together.
For that reason the Royal Palace works best not as a destination in itself but as a link on a southern-medina walk. The mechouar lies between the Saadian Tombs and Kasbah Mosque on one side and the entrance to the Agdal Gardens on the other, so you pass through it naturally, pause to admire the gates, and move on. Respect the setting: it's an active seat of the state, and photographing the guards or gates too closely is not appreciated.
Highlights
- The official Marrakech residence of the King of Morocco
- Monumental brass-studded gates set in long ochre walls
- The great mechouar (parade square) before the palace
- A short walk from the Saadian Tombs and Agdal Gardens
What to see
The monumental gates
Grand studded doors in carved surrounds set into the palace walls — the photogenic public face.
The great mechouar
The vast parade square before the palace, used for royal ceremony and allegiance rituals.
The ochre ramparts
Long crenellated walls enclosing the royal quarter, glowing warm in afternoon light.
The route to the Agdal
The mechouar leads on toward the historic Agdal Gardens behind the palace.
Getting there
- In the Kasbah quarter of the southern medina, near the Saadian Tombs
- Walk on from the Saadian Tombs and Kasbah Mosque, about 25 minutes from Jemaa el-Fnaa
- Petit taxis can drop you at the Kasbah or the Agdal Gardens gate nearby
Insider tips
- The interior is closed — this is a stop for the gates and squares only
- Don't photograph the guards or point cameras too closely at the gates
- Fold it into a walk between the Saadian Tombs and the Agdal Gardens
- Late afternoon light warms the ochre walls beautifully
- Keep moving through the mechouar rather than lingering by the entrances
Frequently asked questions
Can you go inside the Royal Palace in Marrakech?
No — the Dar el Makhzen is the king's working residence and is closed to the public. There are no tours of the interior. What you can see and photograph are the monumental gates and the great mechouar (parade square) in front, which give a sense of the palace's scale and the ceremony surrounding it.
Is the Royal Palace worth visiting?
As a brief stop, yes — the gates and the vast mechouar are impressive, and it sits right on the route between the Saadian Tombs and the Agdal Gardens, so you pass it anyway. Don't expect to go in or spend long: it's a photo of the walls and gates and then on to the neighbouring sights.
Is it allowed to take photos at the Royal Palace?
You can photograph the walls, gates and squares from a respectful distance, but avoid pointing cameras at the guards or too closely at the entrances, which is discouraged at an active seat of state. Keep moving rather than loitering by the gates, and follow any direction from the security personnel.