Visiting Rabat? The Museum of History and Civilization in Rabat is a must-see for archaeology enthusiasts and anyone curious about the history of Maroc! The museum traces millennia of evolution through exceptional collections, from prehistory to the great ancient and Islamic civilizations.
Each room offers a fascinating plunge into the past, highlighting unique objects, including sculptures and archaeological remains from the most emblematic sites of Maroc.
In this article, you’ll find some useful tips to help you prepare for your visit to Rabat’s Museum of History and Civilization.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Why visit the Museum of History and Civilization?
Is the museum worth it? Our opinion:
Yes, the Museum of History and Civilization is well worth a visit for its rich collections and immersive journey through the history of Maroc. We were particularly impressed by the modern, well-structured museography, which showcases the country’s ancient sculptures and major archaeological remains.
Why is the museum famous?
Created under the protectorate in 1932 as the Musée Archéologique de Rabat, it is one of the few museums at Maroc entirely dedicated to archaeology. It stands out for the breadth and richness of its collections, retracing millennia of history through major remains. In particular, you’ll discover an exceptional collection of ancient marble and bronze statues from excavations at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Volubilis, as well as unique rock engravings.
Our favorite
We enjoyed every moment of our stroll through the collections, but our gaze was irresistibly captured by a small sculpture in the antique section.
A rare delicacy, this bronze work, fashioned in Volubilis in the 3rd century BC, is surprisingly modern. Venus, goddess of love and seduction, is revealed in an unexpected, almost banal posture, far from the image of divinity. This contrast makes her all the more touching and amusing, like the acrobat statuettes that surround her.
History in brief
- 1915: Major Moroccan archaeological excavations begin under the impetus of General Lyautey
- 1920: Construction of the main building under the Protectorate to house the State Antiquities Service. Maroc
- 1930: Volubilis artefacts transferred to Rabat to create a large-scale archaeological museum
- 1932: Inauguration of the Rabat Archaeological Museum, the first of its kind in Morocco. Maroc
- 1952: Completion of the large oval room devoted to antique bronzes
- 2014: Integration of the museum into the Fondation Nationale des Musées and launch of a vast renovation project
- 2017: Reopening as the Museum of History and Civilization, with a completely redesigned museography
Access: Museum of History and Civilization, Rabat
Where is the museum?
The Museum is located on avenue Moulay Abdelaziz, in the Hassan district in the heart of Rabat, the capital of Maroc. Numerous other museums are within easy reach, including the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the Villa des Arts.
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How to get there?
Several bus lines serve the museum.
From the Rabat medina, the quickest way is to take the L102, stop at Mosquée Assouna-v.
From Rabat station, you can reach the museum in just 8 minutes on foot.
Parking
The museum doesn’t have its own parking lot, but you’ll find a few pay parking spaces in the adjacent streets (pay and display machines). Alternatively, you can leave your car at the station parking lot, a 13-minute walk away.
Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating…
Best time to visit
The museum can be visited in any season! The airy, air-conditioned space will be particularly appreciated on hot days, but the visit will also be very pleasant in winter.
Length of visit and main difficulties
Depending on your interest in archaeological collections, allow between 1 and 2 hours for the visit.
The visit presents no particular difficulties, and access is guaranteed on the first floor for people with reduced mobility. An entrance and adapted toilets are dedicated to them.
Advice on how to visit
We advise you to start with the chronological section (yellow route on the map) before taking a leisurely stroll along the thematic route.
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Visiting with children
We didn’t notice any special features for children, but they should appreciate the variety of objects on display.
Schedules and rates
The Rabat Museum of History and Civilization is open daily (except Tuesdays) from 10am to 6pm. Find out more on the National Museums Foundation website here.
Admission tickets are priced from 10dhs (MAD) for children to 20 dhs (MAD) for adults. Free admission is granted on Fridays to nationals and foreign residents at Maroc.
Guided tours
For the time being, the museum does not offer guided tours, but the teaching aids in the rooms (in Arabic and French) are extremely useful for understanding the exhibition. The entrance hall has also been equipped with an interactive digital terminal that provides visitors with the geographical references they need to understand the collection.
Catering
The Museum of History and Civilization doesn’t offer on-site catering, but you’ll find a few addresses nearby. In particular, we spotted the Kasr al Assil restaurant, with its colorful decor and traditional, flavorful cuisine!
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A journey through the history of Maroc: the chronological tour
The first section traces the history of the various civilizations of Maroc.
Prehistoric and ancient collections
You’ll start your visit on the first floor, where you’ll discover artifacts from the Paleolithic, Neolithic and Metal Age periods, bearing witness to human presence at Maroc for 1,000,000 years. Most of the objects come from archaeological sites in Maroc, such as Jebel Ighoud, Tafoughalt, Achekar, Sidi Abderrahmane and Oued Deraa. In the left wing of the room, you can discover the vestiges of Moroccan antiquity, marked by the Phoenician, Mauritanian and Roman civilizations, through a collection of bronze, ceramic and marble pieces.
The diversity of the objects in the collection impressed us, both in terms of the richness of the periods represented and the variety of the pieces on display. Take the time to look closely at the prehistoric tools, the Neolithic bowls, the amphora fragments from the Punic civilization, the burial remains and, above all, the many strikingly elegant antique sculptures. Each work of art is clearly revealed thanks to well-explained labels, meticulous lighting and subtle display in the showcases, allowing you to fully appreciate every detail.
The transitional period: rare objects
Now head upstairs to discover the transitional period, of which there are few traces. After the withdrawal of the Roman administration towards the end of the 3rd century, the history of Maroc plunges into relative obscurity. However, a handful of remains offer a glimpse of the religious and cultural influences that intersected during this period. This section highlights the Jewish and Christian practices that marked this transition, through objects testifying to the diversity of beliefs present at Maroc before the gradual Islamization of the territory.
At the heart of this rare collection, visitors can admire a selection of lamps decorated with Jewish and Christian symbols, recalling the presence of these communities in Late Antiquity. Among the most intriguing pieces, a seven-branched bronze candlestick discovered in Volubilis and a Hebrew stele, probably from the 4th century, evoke the existence of Jewish funeral rites in the region. Other objects, such as a Byzantine incense burner, a peacock-shaped lamp or a Coptic oil diffuser, bear witness to the cultural exchanges between Maroc and the East in the 5th-7th centuries, heralding the first signs of the territory’s Islamization.
Right: Hebrew stele, Volubilis, 4th century (?), Stone
Islamic collections
Move on to the area devoted to Islamic collections. This section highlights the legacy of the great dynasties that shaped Maroc, from the Idrissids to the Alawites, through archaeological remains unearthed at major sites such as Belyounech, Sijilmassa and the Koutoubia.
We appreciated the diversity of the objects on display: ancient coins, delicate ceramics or finely ornamented architectural elements such as wall coverings or capitals. Each piece tells a part of the story of these dynasties, testifying to refined craftsmanship and ornamentation that has evolved over the centuries.
Beyond art and architecture, this section highlights the importance of scientific knowledge in Moroccan civilization, particularly in Fez and Marrakech.
Indeed, successive dynasties encouraged the development of disciplines as varied as astronomy, medicine and metrology. Among the items on display are a sundial for measuring time, a Mudd nabaoui for measuring legal alms and an astrolabe.
Precise and sophisticated, this instrument enabled scholars to observe the stars, orient travellers and even determine prayer times!
Exploring the sculptural treasures of the past: the theme trail
After exploring the historical evolution of Maroc, let yourself be captivated by the nobility of materials that have stood the test of time: the finesse of marble, the brilliance of bronze, the raw strength of stone.
Marble: statues and busts from the Roman Empire
The marble hall contains sculptures, the best examples of which come from the sites of Volubilis, Banasa, Thamusida and Sala. We were impressed by these works, most of them carved in Italian Carrara marble or Greek Penteelic marble.
The attractive collection consists mainly of statues, portraits and statue bases, the latter made from local materials such as grey limestone or dune sandstone.
We’ve learned that statuary has a variety of functions, giving us an insight into ancient life. It can be cultural, like the statue of Ptolemy, enthroned majestically in the museum entrance, or linked to religious life, like the head of the goddess Juno.
It also fulfilled an honorary function, as attested by the inscriptions engraved on the bases of statues such as the one dedicated to Marcus. Finally, sculpture could also be used simply to decorate homes or gardens.
Bronze: masterpieces of antiquity
As soon as you enter the large oval room, the atmosphere changes. The subdued lighting and elegant black plinths create a striking setting, sublimating each object. This scenography highlights the diversity of ancient statuary: the art of portraiture, illustrated by the imposing busts of Cato and Juba II, rubs shoulders with the archaic style, embodied by the sculpture of the horse and rider. Further on, the pouring ephebe and the ivy-crowned ephebe bear witness to the influence of the classical style. Alongside these sculpted figures, the collection is enriched by luxurious furnishings, refined items of finery and a variety of everyday and religious objects, illustrating the mastery of different casting techniques in the Roman period.
Among these ancient treasures, don’t miss Le Chien de Volubilis, distinguished by its striking realism. This bronze sculpture, dating from the 1st-2nd centuries A.D., depicts an animal in full tension, ready to pounce, its supple, nervous body poised on its front legs. Every detail, from the collar around its neck to the musculature of its legs, betrays an exceptional mastery of canine anatomy. A bronze protuberance on its left flank bears witness to its ancient connection with a statue of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt.
Stone: inscriptions and engravings
After being plunged into darkness, the tour ends in an open-air patio! Here, you’ll find a variety of lapidary ensembles: rock engravings, Libyan and Latin inscriptions, ancient votive stelae and Islamic prismatic stelae.
You’ll be impressed by the diversity of these stone carvings, enhanced by the patio’s natural light. And don’t forget to take a look at the floor, where an antique medallion rests.
Take the time to observe one of the prismatic funerary stelae on display. Carved in marble, it illustrates Merinid epigraphic art. Decorated with cursive and kufic inscriptions, it includes Koranic verses and honorific formulas in tribute to the deceased. Its refined decoration combines plant, floral and geometric motifs, typical of Islamic art.
Widespread under the Marinids and Saadis, these funerary stelae are not only commemorative, but also provide valuable information on medieval Moroccan society, revealing the importance of social status, beliefs and the stylistic evolution of funerary art.
Funerary stele of Abû Ya’qub YÛsuf, Chellah, year 1307, Marble
In the photo above, you can also see some votive steles on the back wall, which we found particularly charming.
Finally, to round off your visit, stroll through the garden, where a few architectural remains (capitals and columns) blend harmoniously into the greenery.
SHE MADE THE TRIP AND WROTE THE ARTICLE Myriam
