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Rabat, The unique capital....
Rabat is the present-day capital of the Kingdom of Morocco since 1912.The city was founded on the current ruins of Chellah in the VIIIth century. In Xth century, the Zenetes, berber tribes , dominated the vast area of Bou Regreg and build the current garrison there known today as Casbah of Oudaya. In the XIIth century, the city became capital of Almohades and Yacoub El Mansour called it " Ribat El Fath " (the fortress of victory); at that time the city was located inside a strengthened enclosure of 6 km. Under the reigning era of Yacoub El Mansour there were great achievements : a wall of 6 km with 5 large monumental doors, the unfinished Hassan Mosque which was to be one of the largest mosques of the Arab world and the large door of the Kasbah of Oudaya.
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Rabat is also, by its parks and flowered public gardens and spaces, the landscaped city par excellence. Its mechouar (esplanade of the Royal palace), its monuments and its médina attract many visitors permanently. It is the administrative and economic city of the Kingdom. 80% of the administrations are established there, which makes of it also a business district.With a capacity of luxurious lodgings where a number of international hotels are represented: Hilton, Meridian line, Safir, as well as some famous restaurants.The atmosphere is that of a European city with a Moroccan touch.
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Thanks to its privileged location on the Atlantic coast and on the left bank of Bou Regreg, it enjoys an exceptional climate and temperature always fluctuates between 12°c and 23°c. In summer time, Rabat offers to you 30 km of beach and fine golden sand. Also Capital of sports, with its prestigious Royal Golf of Dar Es Salam, which is one of the most beautiful courts of golf in the World.
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Tourists too often neglect Rabat, either because they do not stop there at all or they devote only few hours to it. Moreover, this city has preserved its charm and authenticity, and more than that, it has lent to Casablanca(80 km) the role of the industrial capital for, since 1912, it has been only the administrative and royal capital. |
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The " Chella ", place of great interest, shelters behind a red cob wall built in the 14th century by Abou sultan Hassan. In a flowered garden where nest the storks, some Roman sections of walls and Moslem tombs mix. It is a romantic place. If you do not travel in groups, try to get there in the afternoon when the bus leaves.
To finish your visit in Rabat, you will go to the ramparts of Almohads to contemplate the tower of Hassan, the minaret of a vast mosque of the 12th century, an ambitious work which was never completed. Beside this imposing minaret,where flanked truncated columns, which could remind you of those of Buren, rises the sumptuous Mausoleum that the king Hassan II built for his father Mohammed V wherein the best Moroccan craftsmen worked.
The souks of Sale, particularly souk ek Ghezel, “market of wool”, are worth a long walk which will bring you to the beautiful small Medersa (religious school) of the 14th century. Between Rabat and Sale, do not forget to stop at the village of potters. I do not believe that you will set out without getting some beautiful pottery. Your holiday expences will hardly suffer from it for these potteries are cheap. |
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