Mausoleum of Mohammed V, Rabat (must see)

The Mausoleum of Mohammed V is an architectural masterpiece located in Rabat, directly across from the unfinished Hassan Tower. Serving as the final resting place for King Mohammed V and his sons, King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah, this mausoleum is both a tribute to the late monarch and a symbol of Moroccan craftsmanship.

Commissioned by Hassan II following his father’s death in 1961, the mausoleum was designed by Vietnamese architect Cong Vo Toan. It embodies a harmonious blend of traditional Moroccan aesthetics and modern materials. The structure was completed in 1971, marking the official transfer of Mohammed V’s remains to the site. Prince Abdallah was interred here in 1983, and Hassan II in 1999.

The mausoleum stands on a raised platform at the southeastern corner of the esplanade of a former Almohad-era mosque, which also includes the Hassan Tower. Built of reinforced concrete, the exterior is clad in white marble, and adorned with Moorish-style porticos, polylobed arches, and intricate sebka motifs. A pyramidal green roof, the color symbolizing Islam, crowns the structure.

Inside, the mausoleum is richly decorated. The central chamber features a mahogany dome with colored glass, casting a warm, ambient glow over the tomb. The walls are covered in zellij tilework, and details are finished with chased brass, showcasing Moroccan artisanship. The white onyx cenotaph of Mohammed V, crafted by Ibn Abdelkrim, takes center stage, often accompanied by a Quran reciter seated nearby.

To the west of the mausoleum, an open-air pavilion was designed to house a museum dedicated to the Alaouite dynasty. A mosque was also built within the complex at a lower level, ensuring it does not obstruct views of the mausoleum or pavilion. Its hypostyle prayer hall, with separate sections for men and women, features a marble-paved courtyard (sahn).

Together, the mausoleum, Hassan Tower, and surrounding structures form one of Morocco’s most important historical and cultural landmarks, a place of reverence and an enduring testament to Moroccan identity.