| Dar al-Makhzen | |
|---|---|
دار المخزن | |
 | |
 Interactive map of the Dar al-Makhzen area | |
| Alternative names | Palais Royal |
| General information | |
| Type | Palace |
| Location | Avenue Mohammed V,Rabat[1] |
| Coordinates | 34°00′05″N6°50′30″W / 34.00135°N 6.84173°W /34.00135; -6.84173 |
| Current tenants | Royal family of Morocco |
| Construction started | 1864[1] |
TheRoyal Palace orDar al-Makhzen (Arabic:دار المخزن,lit. 'House of theMakhzen') is the primary andofficial residence of theking of Morocco inRabat. It is situated in thecommune ofTouarga [fr].
The'Alawi sultans and kings have maintained a palace in Rabat since the 18th-century reign of sultanMohammed ben Abdallah, who used Rabat as one of his imperial residences and renovated royal palaces in other cities.[2][1] The current building was built in 1864 byMohammed IV to replace the older palace.[1]
When most of Morocco came underFrench control in 1912, the colonial administration wanted the sultan to be largely stationed in one place, near their administrative headquarters, to show his acceptance of the new regime.[citation needed] Although kings had many residences at their disposal when independence was declared in 1955, they chose to keep the Dar al-Makhzen palace as the main palace of the monarch.[3][4]
Some monarchs, particularlyMohammed V, preferred the smaller and relatively secluded palace of Dar-es-Salaam, further out of the center of the city, maintaining the Dar al-Makhzen as their official and administrative residence.[3]
Several important events in the lives of several Moroccan royals have taken place in the palace, including the birth ofHassan II in 1929[5] and the marriage ceremony of Mohammed VI andSalma Bennani in 2002.[6]
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The palace sits at the end of themechouar, a large parade ground also containing a smallmosque. Themechouar is used for large public assemblies, such as the return from exile of Mohammed V in 1955.
As well as living space for the king and theroyal family, there is accommodation for theMoroccan Royal Guard. The palace complex also contains theCollège Royal, a school for senior members of the royal family,[7] a cookery school,[1] and a ground floor library built to contain the manuscript collection of Hassan II.[8]
There are extensive gardens and grounds surrounding the palace, the design of which was influenced byFrench formality,traditional Arabic motifs andlocalhorticulture.[9]
Palaces and historic residences in Morocco | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fez |   | |
| Marrakesh | ||
| Meknes |
| |
| Rabat | ||
| Tangier | ||
| Other locations | ||
Capital:Rabat | |
| Provinces and Prefectures | |
| Cities | |
