The best thing about studying in Rabat is the chance to explore the treasure of fantastic sites and cultural experiences that this amazing city has to offer. Every course taken at Qalam Center includes two weekly excursions to Rabat’s most famous historic and cultural sites. These excursions are an integral part of our curriculum and include handouts with relevant vocabulary as well as informative summaries about the sites. Students are accompanied on these excursions by Arabic instructors, and the excursions are conducted in Arabic in order to further the student’s experience of immersion
Chellah
Believed to be the earliest human settlement on the Bou Regreg, Chellah was established in Pheonecian times before eventually becoming a Roman city. At the fall of the Roman empire, it was abandoned until aproximately 900CE when the Arabs repopulated the area. The city was finally abandoned in the late 12th century.
Kasbah of Oudaya
Sometimes reffered to as Chellah’s “sister” fortress, the Kasbah of Oudaya was built by Moulay Yacoub Al Mansoor, an Almohad Caliph. Inside the walls students visit an ancient military prison, gardens, museum, and the famous blue and white walls of Oudaya.
Hassan Tower
When construction began in 1195 CE, Hassan tower was intended to be the tallest minaret in the world. However, the project was never completed. While the massive structure is amazing by itself, the site also provides amazing views of both Rabat and Salé. The tower is also located about 100m from the Mausoleum of Mohammed V.
Rabat Souks
Rabat’s central souks are located in the Medina kadeema (old city) and are a great place to interact with true Moroccans and also a great place to shop. The wide streets of the Rabat Medina make it a comfortable and hassle-free place to do this type of visiting.
Rabat Museum of Modern Art
Open since 2014, the Rabat Musuem of Modern art is the city’s newest and most exciting treasure. The Museum houses an extensive collection of contemporary art from both International and Moroccan artists.
National Archeological Museum
This museum has housed the National Museum collections since 1986. The prehistoric section brings together human remains from the middle palaeolithic period to the neolithic (4000 B.C.), proving the continuity and size of the population at this time. The Islamic archaeology section is constantly growing with finds coming from the excavations of VIIIth and IXth century sites.
Dar Al Hadith Hassania
Rabat’s largest and most prestigious Islamic University, Dar Al Hadith offers some of the most beautiful architectural engravings and tilework that Rabat has to offer.
The National Library
Designed by the architects Rachid Al Andaloussi and Abdelouahed Mountassir, the building is a combination of three cubic volumes overlapping each other and an impressive tower. The Rabat National Library contains more than 340 000 books and 60 000 manuscripts
Oulja Pottery
Oulja is a traditional artisan exhibition and pottery factory located in Rabat’s sister city of Salé. While visiting Oulja, students have a unique opportunity to watch traditional masters as they display their methods and crafts.
The Beach
The expansive Atlantic coastline is located just fifteen minutes by taxi from Qalam wa Lawh Center. There are amazing views and several beaches within each reach of the city.
