Rising on a rise above the Bouregreg river, the ochre stone of the Hassan Tower is the emblem of Rabat. It is the minaret of a mosque that was never finished — and the empty field of columns around it is, paradoxically, one of the most moving sights in Morocco. Across the esplanade stands its modern counterpoint: the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, a masterpiece of 20th-century Moroccan craftsmanship. Together they form the city's most important monument, and they are free, central and easy to see well.
Why was the great mosque never finished?
In 1195 the Almohad sultan Yacoub al-Mansour, fresh from victory in Spain, ordered a mosque on a colossal scale — intended to be the largest in the Muslim world, with a minaret to match. The tower was designed to reach some 86 metres; ramps inside, rather than stairs, were built so the muezzin could ride a horse to the top. When al-Mansour died in 1199, work stopped. The minaret stands today at about 44 metres, roughly half its planned height, and the prayer hall was never roofed. The Lisbon earthquake of 1755 brought down much of what had been built, leaving the rows of truncated columns you see now — over 300 of them marching across the platform.
The tower itself
The Hassan Tower is a sister to the Koutoubia in Marrakech and the Giralda in Seville — all three rose from the same Almohad workshops within a few years of each other. Built of red sandstone, each of its four faces carries a different pattern of carved arches and interlacing motifs. You cannot climb it, but standing at its base, looking up the decorated shaft and then out across the field of columns to the river, gives the clearest sense of the ambition behind it. Catch it in low morning or late-afternoon sun, when the stone glows.
The Mausoleum of Mohammed V
Facing the tower across the esplanade is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the tomb of the king who led Morocco to independence in 1956, alongside his sons King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah. Begun in 1961 and completed in 1971 by the Vietnamese architect Cong Vo Toan, it was built deliberately as a showcase of traditional crafts: a white silhouette under a green-tiled pyramidal roof, carved cedar ceilings, an interior of onyx, marble and dense zellij mosaic. Royal guards in red-and-white ceremonial dress stand at the entrances and on horseback at the gates — among the most photographed scenes in the capital.
The mausoleum is open to non-Muslims, which is unusual for a religious building in Morocco. Enter quietly, dress modestly, and look down from the gallery onto the white onyx sarcophagus below. Allow ten to fifteen minutes inside.
How do you visit, and how long does it take?
The site is in the Hassan quarter, a short walk or petit-taxi ride from the medina, the Ville Nouvelle and Rabat Ville train station; the tram stops nearby. There is no entrance fee for either the tower esplanade or the mausoleum. Allow 60 to 90 minutes for the whole complex — time to walk the colonnade, take in the river view, and enter the tomb. It pairs naturally in a half-day with the Kasbah of the Udayas on the opposite bank of the Bouregreg. A licensed guide adds useful context on the Almohad period and the symbolism of the mausoleum.
When to go for the best experience
Early morning, soon after opening, you may have the columns almost to yourself, with the light low across the platform and the river. Late afternoon is the other sweet spot, as the stone warms and the guards change. Midday in summer is bright and hot with little shade. The site is at its most atmospheric out of the main coach hours — and because Rabat sees far fewer day-groups than Marrakech or Fes, even peak times here are gentle. We build the Hassan Tower into the start of our Rabat itineraries whenever the schedule allows.
Frequently asked
How tall is the Hassan Tower and why is it unfinished?
The Hassan Tower stands about 44 metres — roughly half its intended height. It is the minaret of a vast mosque begun in 1195 under the Almohad sultan Yacoub al-Mansour, meant to be the largest in the Muslim world. Work stopped when he died in 1199, and the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 toppled much of what stood. The tower and the field of broken columns are what remain.
What is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V?
It is the royal tomb on the same esplanade as the Hassan Tower, holding King Mohammed V and his sons King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah. Completed in 1971, it is a showcase of modern Moroccan craftsmanship — carved cedar, marble, and intricate zellij — and is open to non-Muslims. Royal guards in ceremonial dress stand at the gates.
Is there an entrance fee for the Hassan Tower and Mausoleum?
No. Both the Hassan Tower esplanade and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V are free to visit. Dress modestly, as the mausoleum is an active royal tomb and place of respect. Photography is permitted outside; inside the mausoleum, be discreet.
How long does a visit take?
Allow 60 to 90 minutes for the whole esplanade — time to walk the colonnade of the unfinished mosque, climb the steps for the view over the Bouregreg, and enter the mausoleum. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light on the ochre stone and the fewest crowds.
How do you get to the Hassan Tower in Rabat?
The site sits on a rise above the Bouregreg river in the Hassan quarter, an easy walk or short petit-taxi ride from the medina, the Ville Nouvelle and Rabat Ville train station. The tram stops nearby. It pairs naturally with the Kasbah of the Udayas on the opposite bank.
Is the Hassan Tower worth visiting?
Yes — it is the symbol of Rabat and, with the mausoleum, the city's most important monument. The scale of the unfinished mosque, the rows of surviving columns and the contrast between the 12th-century minaret and the 20th-century royal tomb make it one of the most rewarding short visits in Morocco.
Include it in your journey
The Hassan Tower anchors every Rabat itinerary we build.
We pair it with the Kasbah of the Udayas and Chellah, arrange an early visit before the crowds, and bring a licensed guide who can read the Almohad stonework. Tell us your dates and we'll build the rest.