Bab Agnaou, otherwise known as Bab Agnaw or Tawurt n Wegnaw, is one of nineteen gates of Marrakesh in Morocco. It was constructed in the twelfth century during the Almohad dynasty. While, Bab er Robb, was considered to be the official entrance to the city, Bab Agnaou is the entrance to the royal kasbah in the southern part of the Medina in Marrakesh.

The name, Agnaou, is believed to be derived from the Berber word ‘agnaw’ which means ‘deaf man, mute man’, used describe non-Berber people who could neither speak nor understand the Berber the language. This can be explained by the gate facing south, away from Berber North Africa and towards the sub-Saharan Africa.

The gate primarily served as a decorative function yet it is hard not to admire the craftsmanship put into building the gate. Its unique horseshoe arch is surrounded by alternating segments of stone and brick, with floral decorations and inscriptions from the Quran adorning the structure and its cornerpieces. Do bring your cameras and take pictures what is widely considered to be the most attractive gate of all of Marrakesh’s gates!