The imperial city of Meknes is located in the Saiss plain, between the Middle Atlas and Rif mountains, in the northern part of Morocco, 130 kilometers from Rabat. Inscribed by Unesco as a World Heritage Site, Meknes is also known as the Versailles of Morocco or the city of a hundred minarets. Founded in 1061 as a military stronghold, it takes its name from the Berber Meknassa tribe who dominated the eastern part of the country since the eighth century. The city complex is a wonderful example of a mixture of Spanish and Arab architecture and parts of the city, such as the great gates, were built with materials looted from the archaeological site of Volubilis. The city of Meknes was the first great work of the Alawite dynasty and is today considered an exemplary testimony of the fortified cities of the Maghreb. Surrounded by imposing walls, 40 kilometers long and with ramparts that reach 15 meters in height, inlaid by 9 monumental gates, inside you will walk among beautiful Hispano-Moorish style buildings dating back to 1600. The urban fabric of Meknes is unique in its kind and consists of the Medina, the Kasbah, 25 mosques, 10 Turkish baths and numerous granaries and palaces.
What to see in Meknes
The rich imperial past of Meknes is still easy to appreciate today thanks to the numerous monuments that the city preserves. In addition to the souks, not as large as those of Fes or Marrakech but equally interesting and lively, this city designed by Sultan Moulay Ismail, who transformed it from a provincial center to a spectacular imperial capital during the late 17th century, Meknes is full of beautiful palaces, beautiful gardens, Jewish quarter balcony houses, narrow alleys of the old mellah and much more. In the western corner of the Medina is the square el Hedim where legend has it that the buildings were demolished by the sultan to make way for this imposing square which was to serve as the entrance to his residence built, still always the narratives, with building materials coming from the nearby archaeological site of Volubilis.
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Porta Bab Mansour
1 bab Mansour shopping complex bloc B, n 46, Meknes 50000, Marocco The Bab Mansour gate is located in the southeastern part of el Hedim square, near the sultan's residence, and is the centerpiece of the Imperial City complex. It is a grand entrance to the city, the most majestic of Morocco's imperial gates, and immediately recalls the charm and splendor of Moulay Ismail's creations. This entrance, completed in 1732, was designed by a Christian convert to Islam, hence its name, the Mansour Gate, that is, of the renegade. Numerous inscriptions are still visible today and the zellij, albeit a little faded, is still beautiful. The marble columns that adorn the side ramparts come from the ruins of Volubilis. The Medina and the remains of the royal palace of Meknes are part of the Unesco world heritage monuments and a tour of its ramparts reveals all the beauty of this site. Next to Bab Mansour there is a smaller door, with the same style, Bab Djemaa en Nouar. Museo Dar Jamaï
2 Place el-Hedime ، Meknes, Marocco
The Dar Jamai Museum is housed in a sumptuous palace from which it takes its name, completed in 1882 and initially used as the residence of the vizier's family. The structure in 1912 was transformed into a military hospital and in 1920 adapted to an exhibition area: inside it is on display a collection of Moroccan art ranging from wrought iron objects to wood sculptures, from fabrics to ceramics, with pieces that date back to the reign of Moulay Ismail. Not only the museum but also the building itself is worth a visit the richness of the rooms , decorated with carved plaster and painted wood, and the Andalusian garden where you can find palm trees, banana trees, lemons, cypresses and papyrus. The building also boasts elegant painted windows, detailed tiles and, upstairs, the koubba, which is a sanctuary, furnished like a traditional salon, complete with luxurious carpets and cushions. As a whole the building still conveys the feeling of luxury and wealth so much appreciated by the Jamai family. The museum also has a wonderful collection of jewelry, traditional costumes and rare carpets.
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Mausoleo at Moulay Ismail
3 Meknes, Morocco The Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail of Meknes, located in the Medina on the opposite side of el Hedim square, is the final resting place of one of the most famous sultans of Morocco and is one of the 3 Moroccan sanctuaries, together with the tomb of Mohammed V of Rabat and the Medersa Bou Inania in Fez, which can also be visited by non-Muslims. The last home of the sultan , remembered for driving out the Spaniards and English from Morocco, united the country and established the Alawite dynasty, is a sanctuary made up of a series of elegant and peaceful courtyards, rooms decorated with zellij tiles and elaborate stuccoes, and adorned with 4 precious clocks donated by the King of France Louis XIV, which can be accessed from the imposing Bab Mansour door. The mausoleum is opulent and showcases the best of Moroccan craftsmanship. Moulay Ismail was buried here along with one of his five hundred wives and two of his eight hundred children. Modest clothing is required for both men and women to enter, and non-Muslims cannot approach the tomb proper. Many Moroccans visit the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum believing that it possesses the power of healing. Madrasa Bou Inania
4 Meknes, Morocco
The Medrasa Bou Inania is a Koranic school built in the 14th during the reign of the Merenides and completed in 1358 by Bou Inan. The Medersa, not to be confused with the homonymous one located in Fez, is located opposite the Great Mosque of Meknes, and has a refined courtyard richly decorated with tiles, stucco, carved olive wood and a cedar ceiling. On the sides of the courtyard there are cells where the younger students lived while the older students and teachers stayed on the first floor. Considered by many to be the best monument of the Merenid kingdom that has come down to us, the Medrasa is a real marvel of Islamic architecture. The Medersa is not accessible to non-Muslims but can be admired from the surrounding buildings. On its roof there is a terrace from which to admire the best view of the Medina. The monument contains a prayer room, a place for ablutions, classrooms and a large patio.
5 Meknes, Morocco
A thirty-minute walk from the Bab Mansour gate is the huge, high-vaulted complex of Heri es Souani , also known as Dar el Ma, a collection of warehouses, stables, granaries, warehouses and barns used by Sultan Moulay Ismail to storing food in case of drought or siege. Several wells and a system of floor water channels , designed to keep the temperature low and circulate the air, were built between each room and today are a magnificent example of Moroccan engineering in the 17th century: the complex is characterized by tiny windows and massive 3 meter thick walls. Each room had a well powered by water wheels and 12,000 horses were sheltered within the complex. From the roof terrace you can admire a splendid view over the city of Meknes and the Agdal Souani basin which is right next to it and extends over 4 hectares. The films The Last Temptation of Christ and Jesus of Nazareth used Heri el-Souani as a backdrop.