Kasbah des Oudaias (Oudaias Citadel), Rabat (must see)

Dominating the hill at the mouth of the Bou Regreg river, adjacent to the old Medina of Rabat, is Kasbah des Oudaias, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The upper (northern) part of this citadel dates back to the 12th century and was erected during the so-called Almohad period, under Caliph Ya'qub al-Mansur. It is centered around the Rue Jamaa (Mosque Street), which runs between the Bab Oudaia ("Udaya Gate") and the semaphore platform, passing by the Kasbah's Old Mosque.

The monumental Bab Oudaia, otherwise known as Bab al-Kbir ("Great Gate"), is largely regarded as one of most beautiful pieces of Moroccan architecture. It was built between 1195 and 1199 and originally formed part of the Kasbah old fortification, constructed circa 1150. At a later period, when encircled by new walls, the gate, albeit massive, served rather ceremonial than defensive function.

Both its outer and inner facades are richly decorated. The intricate carving around the horseshoe arch entrance features a curved band of interlacing geometric forms (specifically, a pattern known as darj wa ktaf, commonly seen in Moroccan architecture), set inside a rectangular frame outlined by a Qur'anic inscription frieze in Kufic Arabic script.

The external façade of the inner gate, facing towards the Kasbah, is similarly embellished, but with minor differences in the choice of geometric forms. Inside, the gate has three chambers which form a bent passage.

As for the southern part of the Kasbah, it dates from the 18th century, and emerged during the so-called Alaouite period. This part of the citadel is taken up, to a great extent, by the Andalusian Gardens, the Oudayas Museum, and a terrace known as Café Maure.