Bab Doukkala () is the main northwestern

gate A gate or gateway is a point of entry to or from a space enclosed by walls. The word derived from old Norse "gat" meaning road or path; But other terms include ''yett and port''. The concept originally referred to the gap or hole in the wall ...

of the medina (historic walled city) of

Marrakesh Marrakesh or Marrakech ( or ; ar, مراكش, murrākuš, ; ber, ⵎⵕⵕⴰⴽⵛ, translit=mṛṛakc}) is the fourth largest city in the Kingdom of Morocco. It is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco and is the capital of the Marrakes ...

, Morocco.

Description

The gate dates back to around 1126 CE when the Almoravid emir Ali ibn Yusuf built the first walls of the city. Doukkala, was that of both a

Berber Berber or Berbers may refer to: Ethnic group * Berbers, an ethnic group native to Northern Africa * Berber languages, a family of Afro-Asiatic languages Places * Berber, Sudan, a town on the Nile People with the surname * Ady Berber (1913–196 ...

tribe and of a region between Marrakesh and Casablanca today. Unlike many other gates of the city, it has not been subject to major modifications (at least in its floor plan) and retains its original sophisticated bent entrance design from the Almoravid period. The passage inside the gate bends at a straight angle twice: one enters from the west, turns south, then turns east before emerging into the city. Today the gate is flanked by other simple openings in the wall to allow for easy circulation. The city's main intercity bus terminal is also located just outside and slightly north of Bab Doukkala gate. File:Bab Doukkala plan.png, Floor plan of Bab Doukkala (the light grey shaded areas indicate roofed areas inside the gate) File:Moorish gates (49907885093).jpg, Bab Doukkala exterior (western) facade File:Bab Doukkala exterior.jpg, Bab Doukkala inner (eastern) facade

References

{{Marrakesh Almoravid architecture Gates of Marrakesh