Morocco, strolling through the old Oudayas Kasbah in Rabat

Tips for visiting the beautiful Oudayas Kasbah and the vibrant Medina

What to see and do in Rabat

Rabat is the least visited of the 4 imperial cities; despite that, it preserves famous historical monuments of great beauty and quality craftsmanship (check our Morocco itinerary to discover more about our adventure). Among the attractions in the city, our favourite is undoubtedly the beautiful Oudayas Kasbah, a fortified town in the north part of Rabat located on a rocky outcrop facing the Bou Regreg river and the rough Atlantic Ocean. The Kasbah is the original citadel of the Almohad, Merinid and subsequent Andalusian towns in Rabat.

Built in the 12th century by the Almoravids and fortified to resist enemy attacks, it is one of the country’s unique sites. It nowadays has become a quiet residential area that perfectly combines historical sites with modern establishments. It owes its name to the Arab tribe of the Oudayas, who were settled here by Moulay Ismail, Sultan of Morocco, in 1672 to protect the city from the attacks of the rebel tribes.

Our driver drops us off right in front of the impressive Bab Oudaya gate, one of the city’s most beautiful external Moorish monuments. It was built in 1195 by the Almohad Sultan Yacoub al Mansour and believed to be the most beautiful gate in Rabat. The gate is imposing, but it strikes the beauty of its decoration. The essential feature is the arch, composed of three different designs: the basic horseshoe, a curved design of intertwined geometric shapes, and decorations with Koranic inscriptions in Kufic Arabic script.

Entering the Kasbah, we immediately notice the Andalusian influence: walls uniformly covered with lime, small white and blue painted houses everywhere, cobbled streets,  massive doors to coloured mouldings and wrought iron. The atmosphere is also fantastic: older men sitting outside the blue doors of the houses talking together, women hanging out clothes in the sun, and some lonely cat hunting for food.

After getting lost in some narrow alleys, we reach Rue Jamaa, where we can find the well preserved El Atiqa Mosque, built in the 12th century and well known to be the oldest Mosque of Rabat. Unfortunately, it’s not allowed to enter inside unless you are Muslim, so after taking some pics of this beautiful architectural structure, we go on with our walk until we reach the Plateforme du Sémaphore.

The view from this wide terrace is fantastic. In front of us the Bou Regreg estuary, and on the left side, a beach where many guys challenge the rough waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Back in the day, it was crucial to defending the fortress thanks to its high position.

Going back on Rue Jamaa, we wander down the winding streets lined with picturesque houses to reach the beautiful terrace of Cafe Maure and sip a tasty mint tea. Suddenly, a  waiter comes up to us with a tray full of local pastries. First, there are the Kab Ghzahl, and we love them! Made with sugar, almond paste, butter, and orange flowers are delicious, and it’s impossible not to give in!

Anyway, the tray is plenty of local delicacies: the cinnamon oranges, the Mlouwza, traditional Moroccan almond cookies, the Lunes biscuits made with sesame, the Chefchezvous made with almond paste and last but not least, the traditional Chebakya biscuits covered with sesame and honey. We are always into local food so, in the end, we tasted 5 different sweets!

After this refreshing break, we leave the Kasbah passing through the beautiful Andalusian Gardens, a shady retreat with a profusion of daturas, oleanders, orange, lemon and banana trees, created in the Moorish style by French at the beginning of the 20th century. Here is also located the Palace Museum with an impressive array of traditional Moroccan artwork, carpets, astronomical instruments, and old items such as a 12th century Koran.

It’s the moment to get lost in the Medina’s narrow streets that stretches opposite the Kasbah. We first walk along Rue des Consuls, where we can see the artisans who make copper objects and carpets, ceramics, and shops selling spices and argan oil. At some point, this street crosses Rue Souk Es Sebat, where, turning left, is located a covered market selling leather, jewels and fabrics.

After a quick visit to the covered market, we walk on Rue Souika, the main and most vibrant street of the whole Medina. We walk on this bustling street, passing by the Grand Mosque Moulay Sliman until we have a seat for lunch in one of the many restaurants that alternate with many shops and stalls.

We are hungry now, and we can’t miss tasting a plate of couscous with beef and vegetables! Satisfied by this delicious local dish, we continue along Rue Souika to reach Bab El Had, an imposing gate built in the 12th century and known as “the entrance gate of the Medina”.  A vibrant market pitched at the foot of the gate takes place here every Sunday, but today it’s Monday. So after this enjoyable walk, we have to jump in our car and continue the tour towards Hassan Tower.

Need to Know about Rabat