Almoravid Qoubba : A Fascinating Glimpse Into Marrakech History

Marrakech in Morocco is a beautiful city filled with an abundance of lovely attractions and artifacts. If you are planning a visit there soon you might want to consider visiting Almoravid Qoubba. This lovely old building makes for some fascinating sight-seeing.

The Almoravid Qoubba in Marrakech is a building with some historical importance. It was originally built as a sort of ‘wash-house’ where believers could participate in the ritual bathing required before entry to the Ben Youssef Mosque in the center of the old Medina was permitted. Thus the Almoravid Qoubba is located directly opposite the Ben Youssef Mosque. The building was carefully designed to ensure that there is enough water to provide for the necessary amenities. There is an external fountain which is there to provide water to both men and animals, which was required as set out in the Koran. This fountain served as a meeting point for many people due to the important role it played in the daily lives of many. Not far from the fountain there is a large cistern, complete with a wonderfully complex number of old water pipes which fed the various baths and made it possible for people to bath here. Because of this it is a testimony to the technical know-how of the founder of Marrakech.

The building itself is a two-story edifice. The lower story is situated below current ground level. It is thought that the streets lay a few meters lower than they currently do today, so this lower level would have probably once been at street level. Estimations put the building of the Almoravid Qoubba in Marrakech at around 1064, which was during the Almoravid Dynasty. As such, it is the oldest structure in Marrakech, though the Almoravid city walls that still encircle the Medina are thought to be a tiny bit older. The Almoravid Qoubba was rediscovered in 1955 and is considered to be one of the last remains of the red Almoravid city.

The building itself is also worth seeing due to its fascinating architecture. Made from a mixture of straw, lime and stone Gueliz, it has survived the centuries relatively firmly intact. The carved arches and the striking dome within the building are usually considered to be highlights of the tour. If you wish to visit this interesting relic from the past, you will find it in the Marrakech Medina at Ben Youssef Place. The Almoravid Qoubba is open from 9:00 to 18:30 and there is a 10 DH entrée fee.