Kasbah

Kasbah (Arabic قصبة, Qasba DMG ) is in the original meaning of the Arabic term for a citadel. This name is common, especially in the Maghreb countries. It refers to the fortresses or castles of historic city centers (eg in Algiers or Sousse ) and Kasbahs. In particular, in Algiers, the term was applied to the entire old town, which was declared in 1992 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

, - Often demarcated by walls - castle or fortress within the Medina ( old town ) is called the Kasbah in Morocco, however, is a often this was the residence of the governor or the king during his stays in the city (Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes, Marrakech). In addition, the families of the higher civil servants and military personnel living within the Kasbah district. Near the Kasbah usually was the Jewish Quarter, the Mellah, because the Jews were because of their financial strength often under the special protection of the ruler.

In addition, in Morocco the kasbah name is also used for fortifications outside of cities, especially in the Atlas Mountains used ( Boulaouane, Beni Mellal ). These were the rulers ( esp. under Moulay Ismail ) resident to control the coasts and the hinterland with the built and always troubled Berber tribes.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the term Kasbah was transferred to the south of Morocco ( Télouet, Skoura, Taouirt ) on the built of rammed earth fortifications of the Berber princes ( Thami El Glaoui, and others). Not infrequently, the term is also applied to the Kasbah residential castles ( Tighremts ) Berber, but was in these buildings the military aspect far in the background.

In many cities of Andalusia there are Moorish fortresses, which bear the name of the Alcazaba, Alcazaba of Almería, for example, and the Alcacaba of Málaga. This goes back to the Arabic al - Qasba. The Alhambra of Granada is a Kasbah.

The rural counterpart to the Kasbah is the Ksar, a fortified village.