Bahia Palace
Bahia Palace | |
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( | |
General information | |
Type | palace |
Architectural style | Moroccan, Islamic |
Location | Marrakesh, Morocco |
Coordinates | 31°37′17.73″N 7°58′56.03″W / 31.6215917°N 7.9822306°W |
Construction started | 1859 (or 1860s) |
Completed | 1900 |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Muhammad ibn Makki al-Misfiwi |
The Bahia Palace (
History
Construction in the 19th century
Si Musa was descended from a family of
Ba Ahmed ibn Musa (known simply as Ba Ahmed) was hajib to Sultan Moulay Hassan and, upon the latter's death, ensured his son Abdelaziz's accession to the throne in 1894, earning him a promotion to grand vizier.[11][10] As Abdelaziz was only sixteen, Ba Ahmed became the effective ruler of Morocco until his own death from disease in 1900.[12][2] He progressively expanded his father's palace throughout these years as grand vizier (1894-1900), adding to it piece by piece as new land became available for purchase.[2][10] During his tenure, he was also supported by his two brothers Si Sa'id and Idris (who died with him in 1900).[2][10] Si Sa'id built his own palace north of here during that time, the Dar Si Said, which today serves as a museum.[2][13]
Ba Ahmed is responsible for constructing most of the Bahia Palace's southern parts, which included various smaller courtyards and riad gardens.
20th century to present day
After Ba Ahmed's death his palace became royal property. Mere hours after his death, Sultan Abdelaziz (who subsequently took full power over the country) reportedly ordered the palace to be looted for valuable items.
Today the palace is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Morocco; the government counted 410,141 visitors from January to April 2019, more than any other heritage site in the country.[14] The palace is occasionally still used by the King of Morocco to receive foreign dignitaries or host events.[3][9]
The palace suffered significant damages during the
Architecture
Layout
The palace's labyrinthine layout, which does not reveal a clear unified plan, is due to the fact that it was expanded in a piecemeal fashion in different stages over many years.
The palace grounds are entered via a
East of the Small Riad is a small inner courtyard, also called the Small Courtyard, surrounded by ornate chambers.[20] East of this is the Grand Courtyard or Large Courtyard (also known in French as the Cour d'Honneur), the most impressive part of the palace.[10][8] Measuring 50 by 30 meters, it is paved with Italian Carrara marble and surrounded by an elegant and colourful wooden gallery.[10][8] These galleries give access to some 80 rooms which are believed to have been part of Ba Ahmed's harem and the residences of his concubines.[20] At the east end of this courtyard is a grand hall (known as the Salle d'Honneur in French), measuring 20 by 8 meters and featuring a high ceiling with some of the best painted decoration in the palace.[10] An inscription dates the construction of this chamber to 1896-1897, which was probably the last major expansion of the palace.[10]: 544 West of the Grand Courtyard (more or less between the Small Courtyard to the south and the Great Riad to the north) is a private apartment built by Ba Ahmed in 1898 for his first wife, Lalla Zaynab.[20]
North of the Grand Courtyard area is another large courtyard known as the Grand Riad or Large Riad.[8] Along with its adjoining rooms, it is the oldest part of the palace and dates from the time of Ba Ahmed's father, Si Musa.[2][9][10] The courtyard is occupied, as its name implies, by a very large riad garden which is still planted with trees from the 19th century.[10] The garden is flanked to the east and west by two grand halls with excellent decoration and an inscription which dates their construction to 1866-67.[10]
Further east, beyond the main palace, are the remains of a series of gardens and parks created by Ba Ahmed. Among other elements, they contained a large water basin.[10] This area was originally a Saadian-era garden, the Arsat Ben Chegra, named after a Saadian vizier.[22] On the south side of the palace are other annexes includes stables and a mosque with a minaret.[10]
Decoration
The palace is most famous for its decoration.
Gallery
Entrance of the palace
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Entrance to the palace grounds
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Garden path leading from the gate to the palace
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Second gateway, the entrance to the main palace
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Minor courtyard at the entrance of the main palace
The Small Riad
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The courtyard and garden of the SmallRiad
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The gallery around the courtyard
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Stucco decoration in the courtyard, including muqarnas sculpting
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Sculpted and painted wooden ceiling in one of the rooms around the courtyard
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A fireplace in one of the rooms, with painted wood andzellijdecoration
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Hall or salon between the Small Riad and the Small Courtyard to the east
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Detail of the painted ceiling
The Small Courtyard
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The "Small Courtyard" of the palace (located between the Small Riad and the Grand Courtyard)
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Example of "muqarnas" or "lambrequin" arches in the palace
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Sculpted and painted wooden ceiling in one of the rooms around the courtyard
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Decorated ceiling in another room around the courtyard
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Details of the decorated ceiling, including sculpted and painted stucco just below the wooden ceiling
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Details of the painted wood ceiling
The Grand Courtyard
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The Grand Courtyard
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The Grand Courtyard (looking west)
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The gallery around the courtyard
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Painted ceiling under the gallery
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A glimpse of the minaret of the palace mosque, seen from the Grand Courtyard
Private apartment of Ba Ahmed's wife
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The main hall of the apartment
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Painted ceiling over the hall
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Painted and sculpted ceiling in one of the side rooms
The Grand Riad (Dar Si Moussa)
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Courtyard and garden of the Grand Riad
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Wooden ceiling with painted and carved muqarnas decoration at the entrance of the Grand Riad
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Decorative alcove on the northern side of the garden
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View towards one of the chambers adjoining the riad
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Doorway of the chambers adjoining the garden
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Decorated alcove in one of the chambers adjoining the garden
References
- ^ Marçais, Georges (1954). L'architecture musulmane d'Occident. Paris: Arts et métiers graphiques. p. 397.
- ^ ISBN 2747523888.
- ^ a b c d e f "Historique". Palais Bahia (in French). Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ Benabou, Mohammed Amine (2019-05-13). "Morocco's Heritage Sites Attract Over 1 Million Visitors in 26% Increase". Morocco World News. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ "Bahia Palace | Marrakesh, Morocco Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ Rivet, Daniel (2012). Histoire du Maroc: De Moulay Idris à Mohammed VI. Fayard.
- ^ El Hamel, Chouki (2014). Black Morocco: A History of Slavery, Race, and Islam. Cambridge University Press.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Bahia Palace | Marrakesh, Morocco Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Bahia Palace". Archnet. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Deverdun, Gaston (1959). Marrakech: Des origines à 1912 (in French). Rabat: Éditions Techniques Nord-Africaines. pp. 540–545.
- ^ C.R., Pennell (2000). Morocco Since 1830: A History. New York University Press. p. 108.
- ^ "Abd al-Aziz | sultan of Morocco". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ "Dar Si Said | Marrakesh, Morocco Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ "Plus d'un million de visiteurs des sites du patrimoine du Royaume au 1ertrimestre de l'année. – Ministère de la culture" (in French). Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ Hamri, Salma (13 September 2023). "27 sites historiques ont été gravement endommagés par le séisme du 8 septembre selon un premier constat". Médias24 (in French). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ Hamri, Salma (2 October 2023). "Premier état des lieux des tombeaux saadiens et du palais Bahia après le séisme (Amine Kabbaj)". Médias24. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ "Marrakech: réouverture au public de plusieurs monuments historiques affectés par le séisme du 8 septembre". Le 360 Français (in French). 10 October 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ^ Habtemariam, Dawit (2023-10-10). "Morocco Tourist Sites Reopen One Month After Earthquake". Skift. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ISBN 2747523888.
- ^ a b c d e "🏛️ The Bahia Palace, Marrakech: History, Opening times, Entrance fee". Travelguide Marrakech. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ a b "Le Palais Bahia". Palais Bahia (in French). 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ISBN 2747523888.