The splendid mausoleums, where members of the Saadian dynasty rest in peace, were built in the late 16C by Ahmed “the Golden”. A century later Moulay Ismail sealed them up behind a high wall that only a privileged few were allowed to enter as they passed by the mosque. In 1917 the existence of the tombs was accidentally rediscovered. An access corridor was then cut through the walls to enable non-Muslims to see them.