Hassan's Minaret


Most Moroccan attractions are related to the Arabian Middle Ages or in general to pre-Arab times, as is the case with the minaret of Hasan. This tower is considered one of the symbols of the capital of Morocco . Let's find out what its interest is for an ordinary tourist.

What is the Hasan's minaret in Morocco?

To understand why the minaret has such an unusual appearance, we will plunge into history. In 1195 the Almohad emir Yakub al-Mansur decided to build the highest minaret in the world, and next to it - a beautiful and no less outstanding mosque that could accommodate the entire army of an ambitious emir. It was assumed that the tower will reach a height of 86 m. The Emir gave the order, and the construction started. Minaret managed to bring to a height of 44 m, the number of columns of the prayer hall of the mosque - up to 400, when two events occurred that affected the course of history. In 1199 the emir died, and construction work stopped. And much later, in 1755, there was a strong earthquake that destroyed most of the building. Subsequently, this part of the city was long abandoned, but the minaret and the columns of the unfinished mosque still look the same as in the distant Middle Ages.

The minaret of Hasan is made of monochrome pink stone and is decorated with an unusual decorative bas-relief in the form of a lattice and pointed arches. The tower itself has a tetrahedral shape, characteristic of ancient North African minarets. Even dilapidated, this structure has a majestic appearance. The inner part of the tower is divided into 6 levels, along which it is possible to move along a solid ramp.

On the other side of the square is built a much more modern mausoleum of Muhammad V, which allows to combine the inspection of these two sights.

Where is the minaret of Hassan in Rabat?

Like most of the attractions of Rabat , the minaret is located in the old city of Medina. It is convenient to get here on one of the city buses (stop Tour Hassan) or by taxi. In the capital of Morocco, there are two taxi services - Petit Taxi (red cars) and Grand Taxi (white). The latter, according to the testimonies of tourists, provide better services.

By the way, near the minaret are located such hotels as Dar Zen, Hotel La Tour Hassan, B & B Rabat Medina, Hotel La Capitale, Dar Aida and others. Staying in one of them, you do not have to think about transport - this landmark Rabat will be in the immediate vicinity of your housing.

Inspection of the tower is possible only in the daytime - at night the shrine is closed, being under the protection of the royal guards. But it's best to come here in the evening, at sunset, to admire the way the rays of the setting sun emphasize the original silhouette of the tower. The inspection of the Hassan minaret, like many other sights of Morocco, is free. The very same architectural monument, located on the top of the hill, is best seen from the bridge, located on the outskirts of Rabat towards the town of Sale.