I know what you’re thinking…”Another day, another kasbah.” 🙂 I sincerely appreciate the chance to enjoy my vacation while still keeping up with my blog, email, etc., so thanks for bearing with me!
We visited the Glaoui Kasbah in Telouet about a week ago. I’ve wanted to go ever since I read about it in the Lonely Planet – Morocco book in 1998. We finally braved the trip through the High Atlas mountains and 20 more kilometers on a side road to get there. Our guide, Rachid, was very knowledgeable about the history of the kasbah, and very patient with my obsession with doors. As soon as we arrived at the main entrance to the third kasbah – the only one still in good enough condition to visit, Rachid told me that it was the original door and of course I asked about the key. The guy who collects the 20-dirham entrance fee reached into the secret hiding place under the blanket he was sitting on and pulled out the key. I used it to throw the deadbolt and my 7YO son, the future hardware consultant, also gave it a try.
Enjoy the photos below…this is our last kasbah although I will have a couple more Moroccan-door posts before I’m done. I’m heading back to the U.S. tomorrow!
The entrance gate:
I’ll have to start carrying a tape measure with me. Each leaf is GIANT:
Interesting decorative strap:
Top pivot:
The entrance door:
Rachid with THE key (talk about key control!):
Adlani and I both tried the key:
Aliya is a tall ten-year-old and can barely reach the bolt. I wonder what the notch is for on the top of the door on the right:
Another gate…I love the repairs:
Inside the kasbah:
This door had an arched transom and the door leaves were hinged to small side panels:
If you’d like to see some beautiful non-door-related photos of the Glaoui Kasbah, click here.
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Great that you made it, Morocco really is a treat.
Lori,
nice finds in morocco, the door with the notch at the top (in an arched doorway) that is so the door can fully open without hitting the curved section of the frame.
or there may be something on other side of doorway (from looking at the picture, you are standing on push side of this gate) if not, it may have been broke off and not fixed yet.
-Jess the door closer doctor
Lori – Super images! You need to learn your own measurements: hand-span, pace, arm-span – so you can measure without a tape measure. The image w/your daughter provides a striking sense of scale. Great trip!
Michelle
That’s a great idea!! I can stack the kids up on each others’ shoulders to calculate door height! 🙂