One of the most visited sites in Rabat, the capital city of Morocco, is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V — the tomb of one of the country’s most important kings.
King Mohammed V was the ruler who secured Morocco’s independence from French colonial rule during the 20th century. He was the father of King Hassan II and grandfather of the current king of Morocco, Mohammed VI. His efforts laid the foundation for modern Morocco and he is a revered and important leader in the country’s history.
The building is beautiful, highlighting Moroccan/Arab architecture. It was built during the 1960s and was completed in 1971, a symbol of the nation’s gratitude to their late leader. The facade of the building is covered with white Italian marble with a pyramidal roof of green tiles.
The interior walls are tiled and engraved with Koranic inscriptions. The Mausoleum’s dome is made of cedar harvested from the Atlas mountains and covered with a layer of gold.
You enter the Mausoleum to walk around a second floor balcony, looking down at the sarcophagi on the first floor. These are eye-catching, being carved of white Pakistani onyx. The center sarcophagus contains the remains of Mohammed V, and the others contain two of his sons (including King Hassan II) . A photo of this room was was featured as last weekend’s One Clue mystery photo, which was recognized by George G.
The tomb is always watched by royal guards, including inside the structure..
Near the Mausoleum is the Hassan Tower, an incomplete 12th-century minaret. It had been the intention of the ruler at the time to build the world’s largest mosque associated with the world’s tallest minaret, but the mosque was never completed. The minaret was to have been 86 meters (260 ft) high, but only 44 meters (145 feet) was actually completed and standing today.
There are about 200 columns standing which you can walk through on the way to the tower or Mausoleum, which were to have supported the massive mosque, but the Sultan who commissioned the project died and it was abandoned in an unfinished state.
If you Visit:
The Mausoleum of Mohammed V is open every day and there is no admission charge. It is usually open 9 am – 5 pm, although it may close some days between noon and 2 p.m. for prayers. It is wheelchair accessible. Guests are asked to wear modest clothing, with shoulders and knees covered, It is a quiet place — respect that.
The site offers nice views of the Bou Regreg River and Sale, the city on the opposite bank of the river.
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