Is this a palace? Is it an ancient medina? Walking down winding passageways, wandering among leafy courtyards, and tarrying in the gardens, you’ll find peace and pleasure. Welcome to Royal Mansour’s five-hectare estate, a haven of luxury and privacy in the heart of Marrakech. Chiselled bronze, cedarwood, intricately carved horseshoe arches… This mighty portal can rival the grandest of the imperial cities. Yet, at the Royal Mansour, there are no copies. Everything you see represents the original creativity of a living tradition. Chiselled bronze, cedarwood, intricately carved horseshoe arches… This mighty portal can rival the grandest of the imperial cities. Yet, at the Royal Mansour Marrakech, there are no copies. Everything you see represents the original creativity of a living tradition.
A Masterpiece of Moorish-Andalusian architecture
The layout of the main building stays true to the style and symmetry of classical Moorish architecture, the exterior retaining a certain sobriety, while the interior pays homage to the virtuosity of Morocco’s artisan craftsmen. Distinctive geometric zellige tiles cover walls and pillars. Sleek tadlakt plaster gleams in contrast with intricate plasterwork. Wrought iron lamps compete for finesse with the carved wood of the doors.
The ingenuity of Moroccan design offers infinite combinations of colour and finish among the hallways and salons, each space given its own unique feel. The silvery floral motifs adorning the glowing glass bar contrast with gold-on-white foliage patterns on the ceiling; the wood panelling in the library displays the exquisite art of marquetry inlay.
The Royal Mansour’s role as a patron of traditional Moroccan arts and crafts is a vital aspect of its unique status among luxury hotels; with its 550-strong collection of paintings, the hotel also champions contemporary Moroccan artists.
The Medina and Its Grounds
Rather than corridors, the Royal Mansour’s 53 riads are connected by pathways within a private medina, where shrubs and flowers border the alleyways, and gardens bloom in inner courtyards. The landscape architect, Luis Vallejo, wanted to create a sophisticated tribute to the art of living, Moroccan-style. Lined with hundred-year-old olive-trees, Rue Abou Abbas El Sebti, gives access to the Spa framed by orange trees. The driveway now begins at the reopened Bab el Makhzen, bordering the new grounds and ending up in the courtyard of pomegranate trees in front of the hotel and restaurants, and to the olive-tree courtyard next to the Grand Riad. Vallejo’s charmed orchard is in keeping with Marrakech as an agricultural community, but remains entirely dedicated to pleasure.
Through the year, the garden is perfumed first by orange-flower, then honeysuckle, jasmine, roses and, in autumn, the subtle scent of oleasters, while daturas, bougainvillaea and carnations bring colour. In a land of sunshine, there must be shade, so palm trees sway gently overhead, tracing their infinite patterns on the ground. There’s not a sound to disturb
guests’ reveries, only the music of falling water, which plays such a vital role in any Moroccan garden. Water trickles, flows, cascades, leaps from fountains… Apart from this, all you will hear is birdsong.
Royal Mansour’s Riads
Guests’ riads are their own private domain, each accessed directly from one of the medina’s many walkways. On the day of arrival, a butler will accompany you to your door – an austere portal with a magical world behind it. Across the hallway is an interior courtyard and, off that, a sitting room, bar and, in bigger riads, dining room. On the first floor, the bedrooms and bathrooms open onto a gallery looking down into the courtyard. Then there’s your private roof terrace, with plunge pool, fireplace, and a tented space for private hammam treatments.
Each of the 53 riads has been individually furnished by craftsmen from Marrakech, Essaouira, Fès and Meknès, with wood panelling, zellige tiling, tadlakt and plasterwork demonstrating the infinite variety of Moroccan decorative arts. Every riad is different, owing to the selection of furniture and the way it is arranged, the choice of fabrics and colours, and the lighting design. Incorporated into these traditional interiors is cutting-edge tech designed to ensure guests’ comfort, such as a touchscreen-controlled retractable glass roof poised to cover the courtyard terrace at the 6 first drop of rain, or the smart air-con system, its workings invisible to the eye behind filigree plasterwork.
Guests tend to feel an instant connection with their private riad, spending a lot of time “at home” during their stay. The butler’s role is to act as a kind of guardian angel for his charges, with back-up from a superb backstage team, who in turn rely on an ingenious system of underground tunnels. These allow staff to access the riads swiftly and discreetly, invisibly ensuring guests’ comfort, and taking great care to respect their privacy. Thus the art of service at the Royal Mansour Marrakech reaches a degree of refinement that goes above and beyond the traditional hotelier’s rulebook.
The Spa Royal Mansour
Bathing rituals are at the heart of traditional Moroccan culture; the physical wellbeing they bring to the body lightens soul and spirit. The Spa Royal Mansour is entered via an impressive atrium of whitewashed wrought iron, which evokes a giant birdcage. Its height and luminosity, with natural light pouring in from all angles, is striking yet calming.
A 2,500sq/m space on three levels, devoted to relaxation and wellbeing Massage, facial treatments, hydrotherapy and body wraps take place on the first floor, where the private Spa suites are located. The two hammams and relaxation area are on the ground floor, as well as a Watsu pool, and La Table du Spa serving light, healthy dishes, herbal teas and fruit juices.
The hair salon and mani/pedi space occupy five private cabins.Japanese-designed chairs upholstered in white leather offer Spa guests the ultimate comfort. The swimming pool, with its orangery-style glass roof, opens onto the gardens.
Hidden beneath ground level is a handsome space dedicated to sports and fitness, with a coach on hand, and state of-the-art equipment, plus a sauna. There’s also a Spa boutique selling products and accessories.
Tailor-Made Treatments
Every Spa treatment starts off with a personalised consultation with specialist staff in one of the private alcoves off the Spa atrium. Guests follow Tailor Made programmes adapted to their particular needs and fitness level, as well as advice on diet, exercise and lifestyle.
The Royal Mansour’s expert Spa team have selected the very finest products; the marocMaroc bodycare line, made in France using traditional Moroccan ingredients; for facial treatments, Dr Hauschka or Sisley products, according to skin type; Léonor Greyl’s cult hair oil. All products are available to buy in the Spa boutique.
In the Hammam
One or two rays of light pierce the semi-darkness. On the hot marble tiles, submit to the expert hands of a hammam attendant who specialises in the gommage body-scrub technique using black soap and loofah. Only the gentle splashing of water breaks the silence. Later, body cream and a hair masque are applied. Finally, in a quiet alcove, behind a moucharabieh wooden screen, enveloped in the softest linens, you drift into profound repose.
The Pedi-Mani-Cure by Bastien Gonzalez, podiatrist and “foot virtuoso”, is known the world over for combining medicine, aesthetics and wellbeing.
All the while, the Hair and Beauty Salon stays at the forefront in haircare, using 100 per cent natural products by Leonor Greyl, which combines effectiveness with gentleness. Three suites allow guests to book a private space for treatments and relaxation, alone or with their partners. Royal Mansour chefs have devised light, healthy menus, to be enjoyed on the suites’ private terraces, overlooking the ramparts of Marrakech.
How to Get There
There are several ways of reaching the Royal Mansour from Casablanca.
Moroccan Railways (ONCF) operates a train from Casablanca to Marrakech every 4 hours. Tickets cost AED 30 – AED 60 and the journey takes 2h 40m. Alternatively, CTM operates a bus from Casablanca to Marrakech hourly. Tickets cost AED 30 – AED 55 and the journey takes 3h 30m.
The quickest flight from Casablanca Airport to Marrakech Airport is the direct flight which takes 45 min.
You can also drive to the Royal Mansour from Casablanca – the driving distance between Casablanca and the Royal Mansour Marrakech is 241 km. It takes approximately 2h 27m to drive from Casablanca to Royal Mansour Marrakech.
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