The National Jewellery Museum in Rabat is a must-see for anyone with a passion for Moroccan craftsmanship and culture! You’ll be captivated both by the magnificent 17th-century palace and by the variety of the collection, which boasts 8,000 works.
The museum is distinguished by its immersive scenography, offering a structured tour to understand the evolution of traditional jewelry and the diversity of regional styles.
In this article, you’ll find some useful tips to help you prepare for your visit to Rabat’s National Jewellery Museum and have a wonderful time!
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 National National Jewellery Museum?
Is the museum worth it? Our opinion:
Yes, this museum is worth a visit for its architecture, an elegant 17th-century royal palace that serves as a showcase for a remarkable collection of 8,000 handicrafts. You’ll be captivated by the diversity of the exhibits, from jewelry and costumes to weapons and tapestries. Don’t miss this colorful plunge into Moroccan savoir-faire through the ages!
Why is the National Jewellery Museum famous?
Founded in 1915, the Oudayas Museum is one of the oldest public museums in Maroc.
Its reputation is due in particular to its exceptional collection of Moroccan handicrafts, 350 of which come from the personal collection of King Mohammed VI.
The museum also houses a treasure that is unique in the world: the Bizmoun necklace, considered to be the oldest piece of jewelry ever discovered, dating back 150,000 years.
Our favorite
We loved discovering the ceremonial weapons (rifles, daggers, sabres), considered to be veritable jewels for the men and integrated into the traditional costume.
The museum features the costumes of the tbouridaa spectacular equestrian tradition in which the men are dressed in draped garments and richly ornamented rifles, a testament to their bravery.
History in brief
The history of the National Museum of Adornement spans several centuries, marked by various milestones:
- 1672-1694: Construction of the building under the reign of Sultan Moulay Ismail
- 1917: Complete restoration by the Fine Arts Department
- 2006: Formerly known as the Musée des Oudayas, dedicated to ethnography, the Museum specializes its collection in jewelry.
- 2022: Restoration of museum and garden completed
How to find: National Jewellery Museum, Rabat
Where is the Oudayas Museum?
The National Jewellery Museum is located in the Kasbah des Oudayas, northeast of the city of Rabat. Don’t miss a visit to the Andalucia Gardensjust opposite the museum, a true haven of peace in the heart of the Moroccan capital.
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How to get there?
From Rabat-Ville station, you can take the bus (line 102, stop Mosque Ashohada) and walk 15min to the Kasbah des Oudayas. However, we recommend that you take a cab that will drop you off directly in front of the kasbah, as this is the most convenient way to get to the museum.
Parking
The Kasbah des Oudayas is entirely pedestrianized. We recommend that you leave your car at the hotel for the duration of this tour. If this is not possible, the nearest parking lot is Plage de Rabat, a 9-minute walk from the museum entrance.
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
We advise you to allow between 1 and 2 hours for your visit, depending on your interest in the collections. The visit presents no particular difficulties, and access is guaranteed for people with reduced mobility.
Advice on how to visit
Simply follow the museum’s well-thought-out chronological itinerary, and let your eye guide you if a particular piece catches your eye!
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Visiting with children
We didn’t notice any special features for children, but they should enjoy the colorful immersion offered by this museum.
Schedules and rates
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Tuesdays.
Prices are as follows:
- Moroccans under 18: 15dhs (MAD)
- Moroccan adults: 30dhs (MAD)
- Foreigners: 60dhs (MAD)
Find out more on the Fondation Nationale des Musées website here.
Guided tours
For the moment, the museum doesn’t offer guided tours, but the educational labels (in Arabic, translated into English and French) are extremely useful for understanding the tour.
Also note that the museum offers a great program of workshops (jewelry design, origami) and events (temporary exhibitions, choral singing), which can be found directly on their Instagram account.
Catering
There are no restaurants on site, but the Café Maure, a 2-minute walk away, is a Rabat institution. Despite its touristy feel, we recommend a break to enjoy a mint tea with pastries, overlooking the Salé marina.
A museum nestled in a 17th-century palace
Formerly Dar al-makhzan, the building of the National Museum of Adornement in Rabat was an imperial residence, used by the Sultan during his stays on the banks of the Bouregreg.
We were seduced by its architecture articulated around a central patio, surrounded by large rooms, constituting a remarkable model of 17th-century Alawite art.
Once you’ve understood the palace’s architecture, take a look at the abundance of ornamentation , from floor to ceiling! We loved the dialogue between the colorful mosaic floors and the interlacing geometric and floral motifs on certain walls, reflecting the skills of Moroccan craftsmen.
Not forgetting the marquetry ceilings, where assembled rods form elegant polygonal caissons.
Last but not least, you’ll appreciate the harmony between the architecture of the building and the way the collections are displayed. Special mention should be made of the bases of the modern display cases, whose ornamentation takes up traditional motifs and creates a subtle continuity between the space and the collection.
An exceptional and varied collection
As soon as you arrive, you’ll be captivated by the beauty of the exhibits. From the meticulous ornamentation of the objects (chests, combs, slippers) to the brilliance of the jewelry and the shimmering colors of the traditional costumes, you’ll be overwhelmed!
In addition to the beauty of the collections, we were impressed by the variety of items on display, coming from the different regions of Maroc, thus offering a complete panorama of this unique heritage.
We were amazed, for example, by the diversity of the models of caftans, this traditional garment with a loose, T-shaped cut. Worn throughout Maroc, it differs from region to region. In Fez, for example, the cut is straight and the fabrics refined, sometimes adorned with gold-thread embroidery, while in Tétouan, it has a flared cut and is distinguished by the dagger-shaped khanjar embroidery.
One of the rarest pieces in the collection is undoubtedly the Bizmoun necklace, considered to be the oldest piece of jewelry in the world, dating back 150,000 years. We were fascinated by this set of 32 perforated shells, discovered in 2019 in the Bizmoun cave near Essaouira.
An immersive journey to the heart of Moroccan traditions
We loved being guided through the museum. In fact, the well-thought-out tour is divided into 5 main themes, with very clear content:
- The historical development and manufacture of ornaments in the Maroc
- The history of Moroccan costume
- Men’s jewellery
- Amazigh finery
- Regional specificities of urban jewelry production centers.
In addition to a fluid visit, the museum’s scenography is refined and refined. We appreciated the fact that each theme is marked by a distinct color, and the presentation of mannequins inside large bay windows, adding a touch of modernity.
Special mention must be made of the lighting effects, which draw delicate halos around the works, inside the darkened rooms, reinforcing their presence.
The museum’s final asset: its mediation! We found the educational panels very well constructed, allowing us to learn more about thehistory of jewelry and its symbolism! Archival videos also complement the written content.
We learned, for example, that jewelry at Maroc symbolizes the wearer’s social status. Rural jewelry is made exclusively of silver and comes mainly from workshops in the Anti-Atlas, while city jewelry is more often made of gold and features more complex pieces such as the Taj (bridal crown) or the Lebba (necklace adorned with precious stones).
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