Royal Rabat Palace

The Royal Rabat Palace is the official residence of the King of Morocco, Hassan II. The popular governmental complex is guarded by soldiers. It is only partially open to visitors, i.e., visitors are allowed to enter the palace's gardens but cannot enter the palace’s building. Nonetheless, the majestic architecture of the building is a fine example of Moroccan architecture at its best.

Its official name is El Mechouar Essaid Palace, which literally translates to ‘the venue of happiness palace’. The complex of the royal palace also includes a gorgeously domed mosque, a barrack for guards, numerous picture-worthy ministerial buildings, a royal college and a tiny racetrack. All the buildings inside the complex are lined with reflective green tiles and built using the conventional city house model with large gardens and inner courtyards. The building has aged cannons on each of its edges and a beautiful fountain at the centre. The royal rabat palace or Dar El Makhzen only went into construction in the 19th century on the remains of its predecessor, the ancient royal palace of Rabat. The long and beautiful stretch of its promenade, known as the Mechouar is often used for royal outdoor ceremonies. Visitors cannot click pictures of the palace and stop and look at the palace for a long time.