Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
about 1 month ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
about 1 month ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
about 1 month ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
about 1 month ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Morocco Marrakesh Musée Tiskiwin (Tiskiwin Museum)

Musée Tiskiwin (Tiskiwin Museum)

The former home of Dutch anthropologist Bert Flint now houses a collection of Berber art and artifacts.

Marrakesh, Morocco

Added By
Andrew Kaye
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Musée Tiskiwin (Tiskiwin Museum)   Werner100359 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Musée Tiskiwin (Tiskiwin Museum)   Werner100359 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Musée Tiskiwin (Tiskiwin Museum)   Werner100359 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Leatherwork popular in the Sahel.   andyjkaye / Atlas Obscura User
Courtyard in the shade.   andyjkaye / Atlas Obscura User
Artifacts from across the Maghreb.   andyjkaye / Atlas Obscura User
Mezzanine .   andyjkaye / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

There are a host of imperial palaces to discover in Marrakech. For something a little different, then look no further than Dutch anthropologist Bert Flint's collection of cultural artifacts; all housed in a finely restored Riad. 

Once ranked as Morocco's most charming (small) museum, Musée Tiskiwin is a world of its own. Away from the frenzied souks, but close enough to the popular Mellah and Kasbah districts, few tourists know this wonderful attraction exists. 

Inconspicuous from the outside, the mezzanine's courtyard is filled with trees ripe with mandarins. You can take a seat there in the shade and if your lucky, have a sip of thé á la menthe. Only a few of the curated descriptions in English match the associated exhibits. Piecing together the text and exploring which captions relate to which artifacts adds to the museum's charm. 

The imagination wanders as you retrace the old caravan routes Berber tribes traveled for centuries across the Sahara, ultimately headed for Mali and Timbuktu. Upstairs is where the tour begins. Exhibits are filled with carpets, brooches, and tents of Amazigh culture. The Amazigh (or Berbers) lived in western Maghreb for thousands of years before Arabs arrived during the 7th century. They often formed communities nestled in the Atlas foothills. 

The leatherwork on display is especially memorable. It's a specialty among the peoples of the Sahel, and is viewed as almost sacred. The leatherwork on display was mainly used as gifts or were given to community elders. One item that doesn't look at all comfortable is a leather girdle worn by men racing horses.

You can smell and sense the history throughout the exhibits. The tour winds through rooms dedicated to Algeria and Mauritania. The museum reminds visitors that these weren't just vast stretches of sand, but fiefdoms and battlegrounds for warring tribes. Accessories are sprinkled all over the museum from jewelry to headwear, all symbolizing the cultural diversity of the region.

Perhaps the quirkiest exhibit of them all are the photos of the Wodaabe Fulani people, who lived in Agadez (Niger). They are pictured celebrating the annual Gerewol courtship ritual filled with elaborate ornamentations. 

Another notable feature of the museum is the layered history on the Jews of Morocco, which although touched on in other museums, is addressed here in anthropological detail. There are details about the fine silverwork and crafts of the Jewish people, along with how they co-existed with the Berbers. Sometimes they even self-identified as Berbers. 

For a final splash of color, there are tapestries on display. Bert Flint spares no detail.

Update December 2024: Currently closed for renovations from the earthquake.

Related Tags

Museums Art Art History History & Culture

Know Before You Go

The museum doesn't automatically display curated text, you have to request an English copy on arrival. The museum sometimes closes for a couple of hours at 12:30 p.m and reopens around 2:30 p.m. 

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Morocco: Souks, Spices & Saharan Stars

A Moroccan Culinary Adventure from Marrakech to Essaouira.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

andyjkaye

Edited By

jonathancarey

  • jonathancarey

Published

February 7, 2020

Updated

December 11, 2024

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Musée Tiskiwin (Tiskiwin Museum)
8 Rue de la Bahia
Marrakesh, 40000
Morocco
31.622254, -7.984222
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Bahia Palace

Marrakesh, Morocco

miles away

Miara Cemetery

Marrakesh, Morocco

miles away

Jemaa el-Fna Square

Marrakesh, Morocco

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Marrakesh

Marrakesh

Morocco

Places 14
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Bahia Palace

Marrakesh, Morocco

miles away

Miara Cemetery

Marrakesh, Morocco

miles away

Jemaa el-Fna Square

Marrakesh, Morocco

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Marrakesh

Marrakesh

Morocco

Places 14
Stories 1

Related Places

  • Museum of Cartoon Art

    Pune, India

    Museum of Cartoon Art

    On the university grounds, this unique museum is dedicated to cartoons and their importance in society.

  • Maridon Museum

    Butler, Pennsylvania

    Maridon Museum

    The only museum in the Western Pennsylvania region that focuses on Asian art and Meissen porcelain.

  • Museo Sorolla

    Madrid, Spain

    Museo Sorolla

    A comprehensive look at the art of Joaquín Sorolla in his former home in Madrid.

  • Ulpiano Checa Museum

    Colmenar de Oreja, Spain

    Ulpiano Checa Museum

    Dedicated to one of Spain’s most talented painters and also one of the least known.

  • Bunk’Art 2

    Tirana, Albania

    Bunk’Art 2

    In the heart of Tirana, this underground nuclear bunker has been transformed into a museum.

  • Japanese Sword Museum

    Tokyo, Japan

    Japanese Sword Museum

    This museum showcases the art of ancient sword-making.

  • John Cadel Art Gallery.

    Stone Park, Illinois

    Italian Cultural Center

    Inside the center are Italian works of art and a replica model of St. Peter's Basilica.

  • Portland’s Center for Native American Art

    Portland, Oregon

    Native American Art Center

    One of the most comprehensive collections of historic Native American culture in the country reframes artifacts as artwork.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.