Koutoubia Mosque

جامع الكتبية

Built by the Almohad dynasty in the 12th century. Its 77-metre minaret is Marrakech's landmark and the height benchmark for city buildings. Non-Muslims can visit the outer gardens.

جامع الكتبية was built between 1147 and 1195 during the Almohad dynasty. Its name comes from the booksellers' market (Kutubiyyin) that once surrounded it. It is the largest mosque in Marrakech, and its 77-metre sandstone minaret served as the model for Seville's Giralda and Rabat's Hassan Tower. City rules forbid any building from rising higher than it, so it can be seen from all over the old town.

The four faces of the tower feature different arched patterns, and four copper balls sit on top (legend says they were gold). The interior is closed to non-Muslims, but you can freely visit the surrounding Rose Garden and the archaeological square outside, which is free and open all day. On the north side, the ground shows the foundations of an earlier mosque, which was abandoned because its orientation was off.

The best time to view it is around sunset, from Jemaa el-Fnaa or the garden on the west side of the minaret. The tower and palm silhouettes look especially striking against the evening glow. The five daily calls to prayer echoing over the square are part of the experience. The mosque is a 3-minute walk west of the square and serves as the landmark for entering the old town from the new city. Crowds are heavy around midday Friday prayers, so do not photograph people while they pray. Allow about 30 minutes.

Koutoubia Mosque

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