Most people stop over in Meknes simply to make a trip to Volubilis, Morocco's most famous Roman site. But those who decide to linger on in the city will be rewarded. Sightseeing in Meknes has a charm all of its own, with a bustling Medina of locals and a more easygoing approach than Marrakesh or Fes. The grandiose gateway of Bab el-Mansour is another chief attraction.
As well as touring the Volubilis ruins, visitors interested in history will enjoy a day trip to the hilltop pilgrimage town of Moulay Idriss.
1 Volubilis
The ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis are the main tourist attraction for Meknes. This is Morocco's most famous Roman remnant and for good reason. Sitting atop a hill, with the countryside rolling out below, the surviving columns and temple fragments of Volubilis are an impressive, and powerfully atmospheric, site. Although much that has been unearthed here is now on display in Rabat's Archaeology Museum, many of the gorgeous and intricate floor mosaics in Volubilis' grand Roman villas have been left in-situ, giving you a taste of the grandeur of wealthy Roman life.
The city's hey-day was AD 24-285 when it served as capital for the Roman province, and most of the ruins date from this period of prosperity. Of particular interest are the House of Orpheus, theHouse of the Athlete, and the House of the Labours of Hercules, with their particularly well-preserved mosaics.
Hours: Open daily 8am-5pm
Admission: 20DH
Location: 29 km from Meknes
Accomodation: Where to Stay in Meknes - TripAdvisor.com
2 Moulay Idriss
Established in AD 788, the holy city of Moulay Idriss is named after the country's most venerated saint, and the Prophet Mohammed's great-great grandson, who founded the first Moroccan state. The city is built upon the rocky spurs of the Khiber and Tazga hills, with the buildings tumbling down the slopes dramatically. For the faithful, this is an important pilgrimage centre and a mouseem (religious festival) annually in August attracts thousands who pitch their tents around the town.
Although non-Muslims cannot enter the shrines of the town, you can wander up through theMedina (old town) to the hillside paths above and get amazing rooftop views of the entire settlement. Moulay Idriss can easily be visited either on the way to or from Volubilis.
Location: 27 km from Meknes
3 Bab al-Mansour
Bab al-Mansour is the main gate between Meknes' Medina and Imperial City districts. It's an immense and highly photogenic structure that many experts proclaim as one of North Africa's finest examples of surviving gateways. Finished in 1732, it was built by Sultan Moulay Ismail (though completed after his reign). The intricate architectural detail on the gateway includes lavish use of zellige tiling and carving work.
4 Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail
This sumptuously decorated mausoleum is home to the tomb of Sultan Moulay Ismail, who made Meknes his imperial capital in the 17th century. The interiors here are truly breathtaking and showcase the glorious exuberance of Moroccan religious decoration. The actual mosque is not open to non-Muslims, but you can enter the outer parts of the complex and get a great view of the mosque's interior from the entranceway.
Location: Imperial City district
5 Medina
Meknes Medina (Old Town) is a vibrant, bustling place full of local shopping souks and twisty lanes. For avid-shoppers this is prime hunting ground with Souk Nejarine offering plenty of textile stalls and Souk Sebbat home to plenty of traditional Moroccan craft shops as well as clothing and Morocco's famous slippers. You should be able to get better prices here for handicrafts than in Marrakesh.
The 12th century Grand Mosque, with its distinctive green-tiled roof, sits right in the Medina's core making navigation easy. The Medina is still encased by its crumbling walls which in some sections are still fully standing. They were built during the reign of Sultan Moulay Ismail when he made Meknes his capital.
6 Imperial City
The Imperial City district has plenty of interesting old ruins to explore, most dating from the reign of Sultan Moulay Ismail. The Koubat al Khayatine is the city's old ambassador building and today part of the building is open to the public with a small photography exhibit on Meknes. Next door to the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum is the ruined 17th century palace of Moulay Ismail known as Dar el-Kebir.
7 Museum of Moroccan Art (Dar Jamai)
The Dar Jamai was built in 1882 as the residence of the illustrious Jamai family and was converted into the Museum of Moroccan Art in 1920. The museum retains the rich traditional decor of painted wood and sculpted plaster that were popular interior flourishes for the 19th century Moroccan higher-classes. There is also an exquisite Andalusian-style garden outside. The museum is devoted to arts and craft of the region and there are wonderful examples of wrought ironwork and wood carving. One of the rooms is set out as a typical example of a Moroccan reception room from the late 19th century, which will give you some idea how the rich of Meknes lived during this period.
Location: El Hedem Square, Medina
8 Bou Inania Medersa
This beautiful Medersa (Madrassa - Islamic school of learning) was founded in the 14th century and has been beautifully preserved with much of its rich zellige tile decoration still in place. You can climb up to the rooftop here for excellent views across the entire Meknes Medina district.
Location: Souk Sebbat, Medina
History
This imperial city (the Moroccan Versailles) was built as the Moroccan capital on a fertile plain north of the Middle Atlas, near Fez by Sultan Moulay Ismail, one of the first rulers of the Alawite dynasty that governed Morocco.
Moulay Ismail came to power in 1672 at age 26 and reigned for 55 years. When a Frenchprincess refused his hand in marriage, the young Sultan swore that he would build a palace town that would rival Versailles in splendour. He pressed 50,000 workers into service building a series of palaces, mile after mile of walls, battlements and ramparts and a vast marketplace.
The imperial city was completed by Moulay Ismail's son Moulay Abdallah (1727-1757) and his grandson Sidi Mohamed ben Abdallah (1757-1790). When, in the early 19th century, Meknes ceased to be an imperial capital, it became neglected. It was not until the reign of Moulay Hassan at the end of the century that Meknes was restored and revived.
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