Kasbah of the Glaoui

The Glaoui clan, of Amazigh origin, rose to power in the 19th century, controlling key mountain passes and amassing wealth through trade, taxes, and alliances with French colonial rulers. Their most famous figure, Thami El Glaoui, became Pasha of Marrakesh under the French Protectorate and ruled with near-feudal authority from 1912 to 1956. Construction of the Kasbah of Telouet began in the 1860s and expanded into a labyrinth of rooms, courtyards, and salons filled with zellij tilework, cedar wood carvings, and painted ceilings. Though parts are now in ruins, the kasbah still offers a glimpse into the opulence and ambition of a family that once rivaled the Moroccan monarchy.