"Photography Museum" by Lulu von Sauer
Here's my experience going to the National Photography Museum in Rabat. On Fridays the museum is free for students, so I would definitely recommend going on a day off. The museum is also located in L’Ocean, a neighborhood right next to the coast, so it was nice to walk around and look at the scenery.
The Museum is housed in the Burj Kebir Fortress, also known as Fort Rottembourg, which was originally built between 1888 and 1894 under Sultan Hassan I to defend the coast of Rabat. The fortress was designed by German engineer Walter Rottembourg and was once equipped with 20 cannons gifted from Hamburg, two of which still remain on site.
Over a century later, the historic fort was repurposed by the National Museums Foundation of Morocco and transformed into a cultural institution, officially opening as the National Photography Museum on January 14, 2020.
I went with my friend Anthony from the program and we were able to practice some Darija with one of the security guards.
The guard was excited to see Anthony’s Morocco jersey because the national team was playing in a match that evening.
The museum's fortress architecture creates a series of narrow passageways that lead into larger rooms, giving the space a cool, cave-like atmosphere.
Many of the exhibitions focused on Moroccan youth, highlighting themes such as generational disconnect, economic exclusion, and migration.
In one exhibit, the artist placed mirrors opposite portraits of young Moroccans, creating the illusion that they were looking at themselves while being photographed.
Here are some of my other favorites from the museum. Particularly the women in the red veil, was one of my favorite images from the museum:
Overall, I would highly recommend doing a day trip to the museum because it's very accessible and interesting.
Lulu von Sauer is an American University, and studied abroad in the Fall 2025 on Amideast’s Regional Studies in French program in Rabat, Morocco.
