Kasbah of the Udayas - Rabat, Morocco

The Kasbah of the Udayas is a waterfront focal point of Rabat. The kasbah is located off Rue de Consuls along the Bouregreg River. It is rated on TripAdvisor as the fourth top attraction in Rabat. For some reason, the Tram ranks in first place, followed by Chellah Necropolis and then the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. Other than the tram, I would place these in the same order. Just move each one up one spot on the list and move the tram off completely. Although I will talk about the tram in a later post.

I was surprised to find that this kasbah is inhabited. The kasbah was first built during the Almoravid Dynasty, which existed a century or two prior to the arrival of the Almohad Caliphate in 1121. That kasbah was destroyed and rebuilt by the Almohad's in the mid-twelfth century. The kasbah was deserted at the end of the twelfth century, but is currently a bustling hive of activity. The sprawling kasbah sits on a high point along the Bouregreg River, providing an exceptional view of the surrounding region. The perfect place for a fortification.

We entered the kasbah at the entrance at the higher elevation of the fortress. As we entered the thick walls of the fortress, we were confronted with a much different perspective. The kasbah is filled with narrow walkways with a prominent blue and white theme throughout the area we visited. We passed along the various vendors and shops as we winded our way to the vantage point along the shoreline. We proceeded from there through another series of alleyways to the lower section of the kasbah, which included a lush garden, before exiting back to lower section of the same wall where we entered.

While the fortress was originally deserted at the end of the twelfth century, it has been inhabited fairly consistently through the subsequent centuries. It has been home to sultans and refugees. Here, you will also find the oldest mosque in Rabat. I will share the rest of the story of the Kasbah of the Udayas in photos:

The Kasbah of the Udayas has a rich history that dates back nearly one millennium. There were a few shops near the entrance and on the walkway down to the lower part of the kasbah, but the merchants were not aggressive. It was a very laid back stroll through the historic alleys. The colorful blues and white gave the kasbah a richly Mediterranean feel, particularly with the exceptional view of the nearby waterfront. The lush gardens near the lower entrance were immaculately tended to. There was a small restaurant located midway down the alleys to the bottom, where tea was being served beneath outdoor seating with a bit of overhead protection from the sun. We opted to continue on as it was a bit hot for tea that day. The kasbah was a fun place to visit. Mostly for history and the view. But definitely on the must see list for Rabat. I would probably place this dead even with the Mausoleum of Mohammed V for things to do. They were both awesome for different reasons. Don't miss it.

These photographs are all my own. They may be reproduced with prior permission.