Overview
For an American, it is hard to understand the reverence for the Moroccan Royal Family. Even compared to the British royals, Morocco pays deep respect for the late kings and princes. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Mausoleum of Muhammad V. Completed in 1971, the complex of three buildings stands opposite the ancient (begun in 1191-5) Hassan Tower, part of an uncompleted mosque that, if completed, would be the largest in the Western World.
The complex of old and new is located in Rabat, one of Morocco’s imperial cities. Sadly, on the day we visited, the mausoleum was closed to visitors. We were able to view the building from the outside. A mosque sits between the two buildings. We were ther during a daily prayer session, which added to the experience: hearing the call to prayer and watching the faithful pray on their rugs.
The Mausoleum Complex
The actual Mausoleum is the leftmost of the three buildings, with the mosque next to it in the center. On the right is a large building our guide told us was built for visual balance. However, it was officially built to house a museum.
While the buildings look old and traditional, they were built starting in 1961 of concrete sheathed in marble. The entire area, the mausoleum complex, unfinished mosque, and the Hassan Tower are surrounded by a brick wall. Two uniformed, mounted cavalry officers with traditional weapons guarded the entrance we used.
Hassan Tower
Built to be the minaret for the unfinished mosque, the tower was planned to be over 200 feet tall. Its current height is 144 feet. The tower is square, like all minarets in Morocco, unlike the round minarets elsewhere in the world.
Even at this reduced height, the tower is impressive. The base measures sixteen meters (a little more than fifty feet) on a side. The rows of columns you see when you visit are from the unbuilt mosque. As is part of the wall visible near the surrounding wall.
Conclusion
My trip to Morocco was one of my OAT tours. For more information on OAT, visit the affiliates page.
I consider myself a seasoned traveler. However, I don’t think I would attempt an unescorted tour of Morocco on my own. First, the language barrier is too great. And I wouldn’t know how to find the hidden gems or which areas to avoid. I met a few independent travelers while in Morocco. More power to them.
Getting to Morocco is not hard. I flew from Paris with no issues. I understand there are direct flights from the US. But I used miles, so that colored my choice. I didn’t think of Morocco as particularly inexpensive or expensive. But it is almost a cash-only country.
In the photo gallery, there are two images I took at the Royal Palace in Rabat. We only spent a few minutes looking at it from the parking lot on our way to the Mausoleum.
It is on many people’s travel bucket lists. It should be on yours.
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