A vast walled parade ground south of the medina, the ceremonial entrance to the royal kasbah and the king's Marrakesh palace. Non-Moroccans cannot enter the royal precinct itself but the mechouar — an immense open square of red walls and crenellated towers — is open and surprisingly empty. A good place to see the scale of the city's fortifications. The gates leading off it lead to the Saadian Tombs and the Bab Agnaou.