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The Saadian tombs are around 60, located near the mosque of the Kasbah; a location that was discovered only in 1917, and which remained secret for a long time since the creation of the tombs, at the time of the famous sultan Ahmed Al Mansour Saadi (1578-1603).

At the XVIth century, the prince Mohamed Sheik in 1557 was buried in the Saadians tombs. Then, his son Ahmed El Mansour – known as “the Golden Ahmed” -, extended and embellished their site by building there the Qoubba of “Lalla Messâouda”, named after his mother. Actually, “Lalla Messâouda” was buried there in 1591 as well as the 3 successors of the sultan.

The Saadian tombs have two mausoleums. The first mausoleum is the most prestigious one as it shelters the tomb of the sultan Ahmed El Mansour – who died from the plague in 1603 – surrounded of his sons, in the central room that has twelve columns of Italian marble, with cedar ceilings, nice stuccos, a wooden Qoubba, and burials in Carrara marble. Another room of this same first mausoleum has a rich Mihrab. As for the third room, also known as the room of the three niches, it is also richly decorated, sheltering tombs of children. For its part, the second mausoleum shelters under its Qoubba the grave of the mother of Moulay Ahmed El Mansour.

Despite the fact that the time of Saadians was very prosperous and art was very evolving, to the extent of calling their reign “the golden age”, nothing remains of the Saadians’ art and monuments other than these tombs.

It is better to have a guide to visit these tombs. They are open daily from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2.30 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the entry costs 10 Dirhams.