Marrakech Tanneries
دار الدباغ
A traditional leather-tanning area in the northeast of the Old Town, near Bab Debbagh. In open-air dye pits, workers still use age-old methods with lime, pigeon droppings and other materials.
The tanneries are around Bab Debbagh (“Tanners' Gate”). They are smaller than those in Fez but just as old. You can look down on the dye pits from the rooftops of the leather shops around them. The smell is strong, and people often offer you fresh mint leaves to hold to your nose. This area is a hotspot for the “fake guide” scam, where people claim that “today is a Berber holiday,” take you on a tour, and then demand a large fee. It is best to go on your own and give the shopkeeper a small tip, and you do not need to buy anything. It is about a 15-minute walk from the Ben Youssef Madrasa.
Opening hours
Daytime; mornings are busiest
Nearby sights
- Maison de la Photographie
- Ben Youssef Madrasa
- Medina Souks
- Dar Si Said Museum
- Le Jardin Secret
- Bahia Palace
- Jemaa el-Fnaa
- Koutoubia Mosque