Mahkama du Pacha

The Mahkama du Pacha is a ceremonial court and administrative building in the Habous Quarter of Casablanca, in Morocco's Casablanca-Settat region. It was built under the French Protectorate, with works spanning the 1940s and completion around 1952, and was designed by the architects Auguste Cadet and Edmond Brion, who also contributed to the planning of the surrounding district. The building served as the seat of the Pacha, the city's governor, and as a court where local disputes were judged under traditional Moroccan law. It was conceived as a showcase of Moroccan craftsmanship, and it is often described as one of the finest examples of neo-Moorish architecture in the city. The interior is organised around courtyards and long galleries with rooms decorated in carved cedar ceilings, intricate stucco, painted wood, fountains and zellige tilework in green, blue and white. Artisans from Fez and other cities worked on its decoration. The reception rooms, courtroom and offices follow the layout of a traditional Moroccan palace, with sequences of halls that lead from public to private spaces. Visits are by guided tour, covering the courtyards, the reception rooms and the salons, and the guide explains the building's judicial role. A modest admission fee of around MAD 20 has been charged at last check, but visitors should confirm days and hours at the entrance as access can depend on official use. The building remains in use by the Moroccan justice authorities and parts of it are not open to visitors. Its condition is generally good, with regular maintenance by the state. A visit takes around 30 to 45 minutes and is usually combined with the Habous Quarter's shops and the nearby royal palace area.