Riad Laksiba, 16 Derb Kadi, Kasbah, Medina, Marrakech
Ask any Taxi to take you to “Bab Ksiba” (or you can pronounce “Bab Lak-siba”)
Bab Ksiba is a nice little entrance, into the Kasbah quartier of the Medina, with a large Eucalyptus Tree on it’s left-hand side.
Walk through the entrance and into the Kasbah. After 30 paces, turn into the very first little street on the right, Derb Kadi.
Derb Kadi is a tiny cul-de-sac. Walk to the end, bare left, and Riad Laksiba is the end Riad, next to a huge Date Palm Tree.
Directly south of the d’Jemma el-Fna (main Square in Marrakech) is Rue Bab Agnaou, which we nick-name Oxford Street.
A five-minute walk takes you straight to the Kasbah Mosque and the famous Bab Agnaou entrance to the Kasbah district of the Medina.
The Bab Agnaou entrance, through the ramparts, is by far the most impressive entrance of all medina rampart entrances. This comes as no surprise when placed in context with the Royal Kasbah.
The Kasbah was the 1st Citadel of the Sultans of Morocco, as such, Bab Agnaou is the posthumous entrance for Sultans, state visitors and their courtiers alike. Indeed the current Kings’s Palace is located directly opposite Bab Agnaou. Inside the Kasbah one finds a contrast, between that of the Djemma el-Fna, albeit just a short walk away. The street stallholders are more accommodating and less insistent; there is an air of order, discernment and a lack of intimidation.
The Kasbah district is home to the Kasbah Mosque (this Royal Mosque is the largest in Marrakech, although the minaret of the Koutobia Mosque in the centre of Marrakech is taller), two Royal Palaces, also the former El-Badi Palace and the Saadian Tombs (an exquisite burial site of past Sultans that was only rediscovered at the turn of the last century). With King Mohamed VI regularly in residence; this naturally creates better security, good street lighting, cleaner streets and a hint of being a special place within the Medina.
The Kasbah has a good selection of shops, restaurants, stalls and a Berber Market; the Kasbah also boasts three quality Hammam Spas, the most Exclusive being Les Bains de Marrakech, which is very close to Bab Agnaou. At the southern, quiet, end of the Kasbah High Street (Rue de la Kasbah) one can wander on to the front of the former Royal Palace and stroll through the Sultans Agdal Gardens beyond.
A pleasant walk
A pleasant route to the southern end of the Kasbah is to follow the outside rampart walls, past Bab Agnaou and Bab er-Rob gates until you get to Bab Ksiba, which is easily recognised by the huge eucalyptus tree on it’s left hand side.
The winter months give you an un-hindered view of the Mighty Atlas Mountains, which lay due south of the Kasbah. Enter Bab Ksiba, walk straight, then left at the end, then right and within 100 meters you will find yourself at the far end of Rue de la Kasbah which runs parallel to the outside walls and will take you back to Bab Agnaou and past the Saadian Tombs and Kasbah Mosque.
For my family…. We do enjoy the d’Jemma el-Fna and it’s cacophony of exotic wonders but would not want to be immersed in it 24/7 during our stay.
The Kasbah district is “not too far…. from the madding crowd” but a short stroll away to enjoy, then retreat to some semblance of tranquillity.
Bab Ksiba