Bab El Khemis, Historic gate in northern Medina, Marrakech, Morocco.
Bab El Khemis is the northern gate of Marrakech's medina, marked by sturdy rectangular towers flanking both sides of the entrance. Its passageway runs through several sharp right-angle turns that originally served a defensive purpose.
The gate was built in 1126 under the Almoravid emir Ali ibn Yusuf as part of the medina's defensive walls. Sultan Moulay Slimane ordered major rebuilding work in 1803 that altered its original design.
The gate takes its name from the Thursday market tradition that has long drawn merchants and shoppers to this spot outside the medina walls. You can still see how this marketplace shapes daily life in the neighborhood and brings together people from across the city.
The gate opens directly onto one of Marrakech's largest flea markets, where you will find antique doors, furniture, and traditional items for sale throughout the day. Come in the morning if you prefer fewer crowds and to see vendors setting up their goods.
The original gateway contained four sharp 90-degree turns inside the passage, designed to confuse attackers and give defenders time to react. In the 20th century, renovations created a more direct route, erasing this ingenious defensive feature.
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