The city of Meknes

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The city of Meknes

Duration

3 days / 2 nights

Starting point

Meknes

End point

Meknes

Description

The city of Meknes lies near the beautiful archaeological site of Volubilis and the ancient town of Moulay Idriss. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, this imperial city stands out for its rich history and authentic atmosphere.

Visitors to Meknes can feel the presence of the past in every corner. Although many buildings have been restored, the city keeps an atmosphere that seems untouched for centuries.

Highlights

Tour itinerary

Tourism in Meknes

The name Meknes comes from the Miknasa, a Berber tribe that founded a town here in the 10th century, although the area was already inhabited in Roman times, as the nearby ruins of Volubilis show. The city enjoyed its golden age in the 17th century, when Sultan Moulay Ismail made it his imperial capital and surrounded it with huge walls stretching for kilometers. Its most famous gate, Bab Mansour, is one of the most beautiful in Morocco, and some of its marble columns were brought from Volubilis. The maze of alleys in the medina, with its souks and workshops, creates a very authentic atmosphere. Its main monuments include the Great Mosque, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, the royal granaries and the Sahrij Souani basin. Meknes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, is easily reached from Fez and Rabat and is a must to understand Morocco’s imperial history.