THE MOSQUE
The Hassan mosque with its unfinished minaret, the Hassan Tower, was erected on the hill overlooking the river Bou Regreg, the Oudaïas alcazaba (fortification) and the valley.
The Almohad king Yaqub al-Mansur built this gigantic mosque in 1197. Its dimensions were out of proportion for the town of Rabat at the time.
Of this impressive mosque, only a forest of columns and the minaret have survived until our time.
STRUCTURE
The Hassan mosque is identical in structure to the other two mosques commissioned by Yaqub al-Mansur: the Koutoubia, in Marrakech and the Giralda in Seville.
Rectangular layout. It measures 183m long and 139m wide. It occupies a surface area of 26,000m2.
It had 14 doors.
There was an enormous courtyard at the foot of the tower.
The prayer room consisted of 19 naves, separated by lines of columns.
THE TOWER
This minaret was designed to be taller than the height of the Koutubia and the Giralda. The fact that it was not completed lends it a heavy silhouette.
STRUCTURE
Square layout. Each side measures 16.20m.
The tower is 44m high. If it had been finished, it would measure 80m high.
The walls are 2.50m thick.
It was built using large ochre-coloured ashlars.
The interior of the tower is divided in six floors, joined by a 2m wide ramp leading to the upper terrace.
DECORATIVE ELEMENTS
The four façades of the minaret are decorated with different reliefs, although they all have the following in common:
Following the death of Yaqub al-Mansur in 1199, the uncompleted mosque was abandoned and started to deteriorate.
It was damaged by the elements.
It was looted by the inhabitants of the alcazaba.
A terrible fire caused the roof to collapse.
The Lisbon earthquake of 1755 destroyed it and caused damage to the minaret.
The site was left in ruins until Hassan II built the mausoleum for his father Mohammed IV.
Hassan II wished to build a mausoleum that would be a worthy monument to the life of his father Mohammed V, who is considered to be the spiritual father of Moroccans and the liberator of the kingdom.
He chose a site with double historical importance:
It is a masterpiece of Spanish-Moorish architecture and of traditional Moroccan art.
It was built between 1962 and 1970, in an entirely artisan manner.
600 workers and artisans took part.
The Mohammed V mausoleum consists of 3 buildings:
STRUCTURE
The mausoleum was built according to the guidelines of Spanish-Moorish architecture, although this construction led to what is known as the "Hassan II style", as the king himself supervised the progress of the work. The ensemble measures 135m long and 50m wide. It occupies a surface area of 6,500m2.
There are 4 major external staircases.
It was built alongside the quiblah wall of the former Hassan mosque.
The structure is made of reinforced concrete.
SUPPORTS FOR DECORATION
The ensemble is fully coated and decorated with a wealth of materials:
INSIDE THE MAUSOLEUM
The mausoleum contains the corpses of three members of the royal family:
His Majesty Mohammed V, who died on 26th February 1961.
His Majesty Hassan II, who died on 23rd July 1999.
Prince Muley Abdallah, the second son of Mohammed V, who died on 20th December 1983.
Eight readers take it in 2-hour turns to read the Koran throughout the day.
TOMB ROOM
Mohammed V was laid to rest in this room.
In the centre, a sarcophagus sculpted from a single piece of white onyx from Pakistan rests on a slab of granite, oriented towards the quiblah. It is a jewel of Islamic art. The flooring is of onyx and dark blue granite, so limpid it seems like a sheet of water. There is a huge bronze spider suspended from the dome. It has a diameter of 2.30 m and weighs a tonne and a half. The 12-sided dome is 24m high. Masterpiece of Moroccan joinery. Balcony-gallery from where visitors may view the sovereign's tomb.
A flag for each province, in tribute to those that took part in the Green March on 6th November 1975. Hassan II decided to build a mosque beside the mausoleum, so that the local people could go to the temple to pray. The sovereign restored to this hill its former sacred character as a major Muslim sanctuary.
Behind the mosque, gardens that are similar to those at the Alhambra were landscaped, as a tribute to the historical remains in Andalusia.
Rabat is the capital of Morocco, the country's main university centre and the king's usual place of residence.
It owes its name to the military monk camp set up there in the 10th century, "ribat", which means "fortified convent".
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
Rabat is located on the Atlantic coast, on the banks of the river Bou Regreg.
This same location was previously occupied by the ancient Roman city of Sala Colonia.
On the other side of the river lies Salé, its twin city and centuries-old rival.
CITY DEVELOPMENT
THE ALMOHADS, THE INSTIGATORS (12th CENTURY)
The Almohad king Yaqub al-Mansur wanted to make Rabat a splendid city.
He named it Ribat el-Fath, Camp of Victory.
He built two walls with five monumental gates.
He opened the great Oudaïas gate in the alcazaba.
He started the construction of the Hassan mosque.
The fall of the Almohads propitiated the decline of Rabat.
The city went through various periods of splendour and decadence until the 20th century, when the French Protectorate was approved.
ALAWI, THE PRESENT-DAY DYNASTY (17th - 21st CENTURIES)
1912. Under the reign of Muley Yusuf, Hubert Lyautey's government moved the capital to Rabat.
Rabat became the nerve centre of modern Morocco.
New buildings were erected between the medina and the royal palace.
Wide avenues and green areas were built.
1955. Mohammed V restored independence to Morocco. He was a devout, progressive Muslim.
He put the country on the course of progress.
He promoted the emancipation of women and education for his people.
He brought in agricultural reforms.
He drew up the Constitution.
1961. Hassan II was a skilled politician, the witness to important socio-political changes.
The Constitution was passed.
Modernisation and political opening in the country.
1999. Mohammed VI is the current king of Morocco.
MARRAKECH: THE GARDEN CITY
Until the end of the 19th century, Marrakech was known as the "garden city", because of its huge gardens and the immense palm grove surrounding it.
The majority of the gardens, which are called "agdal", were not just recreational, but actual functioning orchards.
They were equipped with large ponds for irrigation, and pavilions where the monarchs could rest.
Agdal Bahmed is part of the grounds of the Bahia palace, which has all but disappeared.
Agdal Gardens, with 600 ha. of olive and orange trees.
They have been added to the world heritage list.
Menara Garden, with 150 ha. of olive trees. This is one of the largest olive orchards in the city.
Around the Koutoubia, a series of gardens have been conserved, from where it is possible to view the minaret from a great distance.
