Discover Dar El Bacha: Marrakech's Museum of Confluences

Dar El Bacha, Museum of Confluences, also known as Pacha Glaoui Palace Marrakech, situated within the medina of Marrakech, is one of the most beautiful palaces in the "ochre city." Also referred to as "the governor's palace" or Dar El Glaoui, it was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century. Since late 2017, it has been open to the public.

1- Dar El Bacha Palace... A Bit of History

Dar El Bacha was the residence of Thami El Glaoui, appointed Pacha of Marrakech by a decree (Dahir) from Sultan Moulay Youssef in 1912. Thami El Glaoui, known as the "Lord of the Atlas," was one of the most renowned Pachas of Morocco. He assisted Marshal Lyautey in the pacification of Morocco on behalf of the French Protectorate.

The palace Dar El Bacha was known for the lavish lifestyle of the Pacha, his magnificent parties and receptions, attended by prominent figures such as Winston Churchill and Jacques Majorelle, a friend of Thami El Glaoui.

"Dar El Bacha" embodies a complex period for the unity of the Kingdom of Morocco during the French Protectorate era. In December 1950, Thami El Glaoui requested that the new Sultan, Sidi Mohammed, the son of Sultan Moulay Youssef, no longer support the Istiqlal Party, which advocated for Morocco's independence from France and Spain. Following a petition from Thami El Glaoui and 23 other Pachas, as well as 323 Caïds (local leaders), the new Sultan of Morocco, later known as Mohammed V, was exiled to Corsica and then Madagascar.

Thami El Glaoui, upon the return of Mohammed V from exile in 1955, submitted and passed away due to cancer in his Kasbah of Telouet in 1956.

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2- Opening in Late 2017: Dar El Bacha Museum of Confluences Pacha Glaoui Palace Marrakech

A palace like Dar El Bacha Museum of Confluences Pacha Glaoui Palace Marrakech, with its lavish decorations, intricate pediments, painted walls, cedar woodwork, coffered cedar wood ceilings with geometric and floral patterns, and Andalusian-style zellige tiles, is well-suited to host a grand museum accessible to the public in the 21st century.

After several years of renovation work, the premises were restored and the museum's offerings were put in place. His Majesty King Mohammed VI visited the renovation and conversion site in January 2017. This new museum space partially opened its doors on December 18, 2017. Mehdi Qotbi, president of the Foundation of Museums, supervises the site.

This project will feature an exhibition space dedicated to Islamic art. It will display writing desks, tablets, and various objects related to the science and knowledge of Islamic culture. An area dedicated to the international collection of Patty Cadby Birch, representing four continents (America, Africa, Europe, Asia), is also planned. Patty Birch was an archaeologist but, more importantly, a lover of the city of Marrakech. A philanthropist with refined taste, she arrived in the 1980s when the Jet Set was captivated by the exotic romance of Marrakech. She bequeathed her personal collection to the Kingdom of Morocco. This collection comprises over 3,000 ancient objects, archaeological treasures, as well as jewelry and weapons dating back to the Maya, Minoan, and Chinese civilizations. The art pieces span from 5000 BC to the present day. Lastly, a space dedicated to temporary exhibitions will be accessible.

3- FNM & MUCEM

Since 2014, the National Museum Foundation (FNM) of Morocco has been responsible for the renovation of Dar El Bacha Museum of Confluences Pacha Glaoui Palace Marrakech.

Renamed Dar El Bacha – Museum of Confluences, it constitutes the second museum in Marrakech managed by the FNM. The first artistic venue under the FNM's supervision in Marrakech is the Dar Si Said Museum in the Medina. Across Morocco, the FNM manages over a dozen other museums, such as the Ceramic Museum of Safi, the Archaeological Museum of Tetouan, the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat-Salé, the Al Batha Museum in Fes, and the Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures in Tangier, to name just a few.

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Established in 2013, the Mucem, Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations located in Marseille, France, collaborates with the FNM. Since their respective creations, the Mucem and the FNM have been closely linked by an agreement between the two institutions to facilitate the exchange of expertise in terms of scientific research and training. The Mucem aims to collect and present cultural goods representative of the Arts and Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean. For instance, the exhibition "Splendors of Volubilis, Antique Bronzes from Morocco and the Mediterranean," which debuted in Marseille in 2014, showcased masterpieces from the collection of the Archaeological Museum of Rabat.

4 - Shared Holy Places. At the Crossroads of Three Monotheistic Religions : The First Temporary Exhibition

In January 2017, the National Museum Foundation (FNM) and the Mucem (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations in Marseille) signed a partnership agreement for the exhibition "Shared Holy Places" at the Museum of Confluences at Dar El Bacha in Marrakech in the fall of 2017.

"Shared Holy Places" is the very first temporary exhibition open to the public since the reopening of Dar El Bacha Palace as the Museum of Confluences. It should be noted that the rehabilitation of this Marrakech palace includes the creation of several spaces dedicated to Islamic art, Moroccan culture, and temporary exhibitions.

"This exhibition offers a different perspective on the religious practices of Mediterranean peoples and highlights the interactions and exchanges between the three monotheistic religions, both in the past and today, which is one of the most interesting phenomena in the region," states the FNM in its press release. By introducing figures, places, and practices, the exhibition is designed as a journey through a multicultural Mediterranean. The goal is to show visitors "these lesser-known phenomena that nevertheless concern millions of people around the Mediterranean," adds Mehdi Qotbi, president of the FNM. The exhibition demonstrates the commonalities between the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religions. It provides historical evidence of a shared past, exchanges, tolerance, and unity among the three religions. Despite often appearing opposed in contemporary Mediterranean affairs, the three monotheistic religions share more similarities than one might think. The "Shared Holy Places" exhibition was initially presented at the Mucem in Marseille from April to August 2015. It then traveled to the National Bardo Museum in Tunis from November 19, 2016, to February 13, 2017. From December 18, 2017, to March 19, 2018, the exhibition will be on display at the Museum of Confluences at Dar El Bacha in Marrakech. For Morocco, the exhibition has been adapted to focus on the shared sacred places of the Kingdom. Visitors can also explore the anthropological aspect of certain monuments and holy sites and view artworks and objects from Moroccan collections as well as those of the Mucem. "Shared Holy Places" is a highly symbolic exhibition dedicated to the three religions: embracing the culture of the other. It provides a meaningful response to current identity-driven, community-centric, and extremist trends. Coexistence, exchange, and dialogue remain notions consistently championed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco. The exhibition will run from December 18 to March 19, 2018.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Address: Rue Dar El Bacha Medina of Marrakech

Opening Hours: Open every day except Tuesday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Entrance Fees: 30 Moroccan Dirhams for nationals, 60 Moroccan Dirhams for foreigners, and free for children and students.

Friday: Free entry for nationals and foreign residents in Morocco.