Marrakech Museum, Omar Benjelloun Foundation

At the initiative of a wise patron, the historic center of Marrakech is awakening to a new life.

Private funds are coming in force to the aid of the wealth of the national heritage for our great happiness. With the only motivations the conservation and the respect of art, a man Omar Benjelloun and his foundation conceived to transmit to future generations the heritage of 5 centuries of the life of the Kingdom. Omar was a great industrialist but deep down he was an art lover.

Always surrounded by artists, he began his collections of earthenware, books, paintings etc ... But his dream came true when he finished the restoration of these three monuments.

The Menebhi palace which became the Museum was disused and very degraded after having invested considerable sums for the restoration on a personal basis, the private collections can be admired by the national and foreign public. The patio of the Museum and a multipurpose space it hosts festivals and conferences, while at the Medersa and the Qoubba they are two jewels of Marrakech. History of the palace which has become the Museum dates from the turn of the century and is located a stone's throw from the Medersa.

The Medersa was built by Sultan Sâadien Abdellah Al Ghalib in 1654-1568, with its 130 rooms reserved for students, it was for more than 4 centuries a melting pot of learning and reception for theologians, the cedar wood coming from the Atlas is everywhere.

When the Qoubba of the Almoravids is one of the most beautiful examples of the architecture of the Almoravids it consists of a dome and a fountain which makes it a reference site by the dynasty of the Almoravids, water was brought by the khettarats system (underground galleries) and the interior bronze pipes supply the basin.