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Sep 29, 2024 · 37 Facts About RABAT. Source: Kayak.com. Rabat, the capital city of Morocco, is a vibrant and historic city that offers a unique blend of modernity and tradition. Located on the Atlantic coast, Rabat is not only the political and administrative center of the country but also a city that is rich in cultural heritage and architectural wonders.
- Romans Lived in The Area
- It Used to Be Run by Pirates
- It’S One of Morocco’s Imperial Cities
- It Almost Had The Largest Minaret and Mosque in The World
- It’S The Capital
- The Entire Medina Is A UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The City Gets Its Name from A Monastery
- It’S only Been The Capital For About 100 Years
- The U.S. Used to Have An Air Force Base There
- It Has A Long Family Lineage
The area around Rabat was populated by Romans and there are lots of ruins to prove it. One of the two primary Roman roads in Morocco extended all the way to the Atlantic to Chellah (known as Sala Colonia in Roman times), where you can still see the ancient ruins and pillars that were left by the civilization. It wasn’t just the Romans who lived her...
For a period of the 17th century, Rabat was run by pirates under the Republic of Bou Regreg. These Barbary pirates used the city (along with its neighbor Salé) as a base for their attacks on ships in the area. The attacks were scaled back over the years, but the Republic didn’t fall apart until 1818. Austria was so mad after one attack that they bo...
While it might not have the crazy medinas of Fez or Marrakech, it’s still considered an imperial city. It was founded by Yaqub al-Mansur to make it his capital, but the plan was abandoned after his death in favor of leaving Marrakech as the capital.
Oh, what could have been. Rabat’s Tour Hassan was intended to have the largest minaret and the largest mosque in the world, but in 1199 the construction stopped. However, the tower is still quite impressive today and reaches a height of 140 feet. It also gives an insight to how architects were building large projects in the 12th century. The remain...
This won’t be a surprise for geography experts or people familiar with Morocco, but sure enough, Rabat is the capital. Many people generally think it’s Casablanca though, due to its larger size and fame from the movie with the same name.
While some cities might get a building or two declarded as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rabat lucked out and had the entire Medina named one in 2012. That’s a large chunk of land, and hopefully the new designation will keep the area well-preserved for centuries to come.
Rabat received its name from a ribat (similar to a monastery or citadel) that was guarded by Islamic holy warriors known as murabits. The founder Sultan Yaqub al-Mansur built the city and named it Ribat al-Fath (meaning Monastery of Conquest) after a victory over the Spanish in 1195.
Rabat hasn’t always been the capital of Morocco, in fact, it’s only been the capital for a little over 100 years. When the French occupied Morocco, they decided to relocate the capital to Rabat from Fes in 1912. They subsequently started building up the modern city into what it is today around the old Medina. The population was less than 150,000 in...
After World War II, the U.S. built up a military in Rabat at a former French air base. However, after the French government left Morocco in the 1956, it was all downhill for the Americans. Mohammed V made the U.S. Air Force leave after it intervened in a conflict in Lebanon in 1958. The base is now occupied by the Royal Moroccan Air Force.
There are several families (called Rbatis) that have lived in the city for centuries. The original families came from the High Atlas mountains along with Yaqub al-Mansur after he founded the city all the way back in the 12th century. More from AFKTravel: Exploring The Moroccan Capital: 48 Hours In Rabat The Best Business Hotels In Rabat City Guide:...
Oct 8, 2024 · Rabat itself was founded in the 12th century by ʿAbd al-Muʾmin, the first Almohad ruler, as a ribāṭ (fortified monastery) at which to quarter the troops for his jihad (holy war) in Spain. He later abandoned his efforts in Spain in order to concentrate his efforts on the conquest of North Africa. It was the third Almohad sultan, Abū Yūsuf ...
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Apr 6, 2022 · The inside guide to Rabat, Morocco's underrated capital. Strung along the Atlantic coast, tranquil Rabat often flies under the radar, but travellers who make it to the Moroccan capital will ...
- Emma Gregg
When Morocco achieved independence in 1956, Mohammed V, the then King of Morocco, chose to have the capital remain at Rabat. Rabat's growth continued unabated. Rabat's growth continued unabated. The most important demographic shift after independence was the exodus of foreign nationals and their replacement by Moroccans, who gradually took over the jobs and functions that the foreigners had ...
May 30, 2020 · Rabat is located on the Atlantic Ocean about 85 kilometers (52 miles) north of Casablanca. It is a neighboring city with Sale. Rabat is a fabulous destination and is arguably the most European city in Morocco. It’s home to dozens of embassies as well as most of the major administrative headquarters of the Moroccan government.
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Regional Tourism Council of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra. Address : 23, avenue An Nasr – Rabat. Tel : Email : info@visitrabat.com. Rabat Visit website. Discover Rabat, the cultural city of Morocco with its events, museums, festivals, and monuments: Royal Palace, Hassan Tower, ramparts, and the medina.
