Bab El Oqla Museum

## A gateway to Tetouan's cultural heritage The **Bab El Oqla Museum** is devoted to the cultural history of Tetouan and its medina. Created in **1928** at an earlier site, it moved to its present home and opened there in **1948**. The museum occupies a historic fortress built around **1830–1831** under Sultan Moulay Abderrahmane. Following restoration work begun in 2018, the museum reopened in **January 2022**. ## Architecture, craftsmanship and urban memory The building is organised around an interior garden recalling traditional houses and palaces. Zellige, painted and carved wood, architectural fragments, a fountain, terrace and historic cannon displays all contribute to the interpretation of the site. Collections document Tetouan's distinctive craftsmanship and arts, including embroidery, leatherwork, costume, jewellery, woodwork and objects connected with everyday and ceremonial life. ## A city shaped by cultural crossings Tetouan's identity reflects centuries of exchange between Morocco, Al-Andalus and the Mediterranean. The museum tells this story through objects, techniques and traditions. A collection related to **Arab-Andalusian music** underlines the importance of this heritage, while archaeological and textile objects extend the chronology of the city's cultural history. ## The museum and Tetouan's medina Located inside Tetouan's UNESCO-listed medina, Bab El Oqla can form part of a wider itinerary through the city's architecture, arts and traditional crafts. Culturama also lists [Cinéma Teatro Español](/en/institutions/cinema-espanol-tetouan). This page is intentionally kept separate from **Dar Sanaâ / the National School of Arts and Crafts**, which is located opposite Bab El Oqla but is a different institution. That distinction prevents incorrect event linking.