AGNAOU GATE
Restoration of works

The monumental Agnaou Gate has been the subject of frequent restoration works since its creation in the 12th century (Gaston Deverdun, 1966)¹.
The entire gate was most likely more imposing than as it is nowadays and its aspect (height) reminds us of the huge Casbah gate of Oudaya in Rabat constructed at the same period by the Almohade king (12th century).
The history of the restoration works goes back to the pre-colonial period (before 1912). The same author (G. Deverdrun) revealed that the Opening Arch of the gate was reduced in width and height during the reign of the Sultan Sidi Muhamed Ben Abdellah (1757-1790) who constructed and renovated the Casbah.
Today, we can only document two important dates in the long history of actions undertaken on the: the Thirties and the Sixties.

•The Thirties period•

The Fine Arts and Historical Monuments Service in Rabat undertook the restoration of the Gate in 1930 (during the months of October and November). Treatment was carried out on:

• the base and the lower right section of the monument,
• the arch itself which was repaired at several points,
• the decoration at the top of the arch.

The stone that served in this work was brought from the Wad N'Fis valley.

•The Sixties period•

Unfortunately we have no information on this second phase of restoration which started at the beginning of the Sixties. Only analysis and the comparison of existing photographs may provide some information (Photos 1a and 1b).
It is evident that a new entrance (with two arches) was created beside the monumental gate. We cannot at this stage of the research, know either the nature of the operations undertaken or the origin of the materials that were used.

1 DEVERDUN Gaston, MARRAKESH: Des origines à 1912. Edition Techniques Nord africaines, Rabat, 1966, 506 p.