Meknes

Meknes (Overview)

Meknes is a city that’s been around for a long time. The medina of Meknes, and the ruins of the royal palace, have earned it an exceptional place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

This means that it has lots of cool stuff to see and do if you like history. There are some really interesting things to learn about how people lived in the past.

The city itself is situated on two hills; one hill is where most of the old buildings are located, while another is home to modern-day businesses and shops. The ancient layout of the city is still visible today—it looks like a maze! Which adds even more beauty to an already gorgeous city.

About Meknes

First off: you can see some great architecture! The old city has a lot of buildings from different erasfrom Roman times to the Ottoman Empire. And even though most of these buildings are over 100 years old, they’re still standing strong!

Another cool thing about this place is that there’s a lot more than just architecture: there are also museums with artifacts from different periods as well! So if you want to learn about history without having to go anywhere else (and who doesn’t love staying at home?), check out the museums here in Meknes!

Imperial Cities Of Morocco - Meknes

Destination Highlights

One place you should check out is Bab Mansour, one of the masterpieces of Hispano-Moorish art, which is the gateway to the medina on El Hedim square. Don’t miss Sultan Moulay Ismail’s royal stables and granaries, either—they’re super cool!

If you’re up for a road trip, you can also drive up North to Volubilis, Morocco’s largest Roman archaeological site. The triumphal arch, the capitol, the house of Bacchus—whatever you see there will give you a good idea about how important this place was once upon a time when it comes to business and politics.

Make the most of your stay in this Ancient Roman City!

Where is it Located on Map

Meknes was founded during Roman times as a trade center between Roman Africa, Europe, and Egypt. And since then it has been a major cultural center. The city has been ruled by many different groups over the years: Berbers, Arabs, Europeans…and even later by Spanish colonialists who left their mark on the city’s architecture and art.

It is known for its many cafes and restaurants, as well as its shopping district—which is home to some of the best shopping in Morocco! Whether you want to explore modern-day Town or find a piece of history from centuries ago, this city has something for everyone!

Best Time To Visit

This City is a year-round destination—and it’s easy to see why. Whether you’re planning your next vacation, or just want to take your time and explore the city’s many beautiful sites and attractions, It will keep you busy in no time!

Whether you’re looking for a place to visit this winter or next summer, Meknes is the perfect place for you. It’s a year-round destination, so take your time planning and be sure to check out our other suggestions on our Country’s MUST SEEs.

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FAQs

It's is a wonderful city all by itself, but two spots only 40 minutes outside of town are also well worth exploring. These are the ancient city of Moulay Idriss and the Volubilis Roman remains. Because they are so close together, you may visit both of them at the same time.

The architecture of the medina, the towering entrance of Bab el-Mansour, and the magnificent Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail are three of the major attractions in this amazing city. This is also the nearest base to Moulay Idriss, a highland pilgrimage town and one of the most attractive villages in the region.

Meknes is less bustling than Fez, but it is also less exciting. Despite its flaws, Fez remains one of the most fascinating towns in the Islamic world. You could spend days walking the medina and letting your senses take in everything.

Don't stay too long considering it is somewhat small. Because you can see everything in one day, it's frequently visited as a day trip from Fez. I recommend booking two days if you want to see Moulay Idriss and Volubilis as well.

It was founded as a military fortress by the Almoravids in 1061 A.D., and its name comes from the famous Berber dynasty Meknassa, who ruled eastern Morocco as far back as the Tafilalet in the 8th century.

It was founded in the 11th century as a military stronghold by the Almoravids, became the capital of the Alawite dynasty under Sultan Moulay Ismael (1672-1727).

Yes, there is a direct train that runs from Fez to Meknes. Services run every two hours, every day. The trip takes about 37 minutes.

Moroccan Railways (ONCF) runs an hourly train from Casablanca to Meknes. The trip takes 3h 12m and costs between MAD 95 to MAD 180. Alternatively, CTM runs a bus every 2 hours from Casablanca to Meknes. The journey takes 3h 21m and costs between MAD 100 and MAD 160.

This is especially true in cities with the highest crime rates in the country, such as Casablanca, Fez, Sale, and Meknes. Bernoussi and Bousbir are two districts in Casablanca that are typically regarded as unsafe for travelers.

The quickest option to go from Meknes to Chefchaouen is by cab, which costs between MAD 1,400 and MAD 1,800 and takes 3 hours and 18 minutes. Is there a bus that connects Meknes with Chefchaouen? There is no direct bus service from Meknes to Chefchaouen. There are, however, services that depart from Meknes and arrive in Chefchaouen through Fez.

Volubilis is one of Morocco's largest and most important archaeological sites, with settlement ruins extending from the pre-Roman through the early Islamic eras. During the reigns of Juba II and Ptolemy, it served as the capital of the Mauretanian monarchy (A.D. 25 to 40).

The Mauritanian capital, built in the third century B.C., grew to become a major outpost of the Roman Empire, with many fine buildings. The archaeological site, which is located in a fertile agricultural region, has extensive remains of these.

Volubilis was a significant producer of olive oil throughout the Roman era. The ruins of facilities dedicated to olive pressing, as well as the old presses and olive mills, are still visible.

While Volubilis remained inhabited as a capital city for centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire, the city lost its administrative center status when neighboring Fez was built, and the population were evacuated to the hilly town of Moulay Idriss.

Volubilis' population were highly diverse, ranging from Africans and Syrians to Spaniards and Jews. During the city's golden era, the population of Volubilis was around 20,000 people. Volubilis became a municipium of the Roman African region of Mauretania Tingita in 40 AD.

Volubilis' location at the foothills of the Rif Mountains was strategic as well as spectacular. It was on the western edge of Roman Africa, and the city's new location—overlooking the neighboring village of Moulay Idriss—provided a panoramic view of the surrounding terrain. Olives and grains prospered in the low mountainous terrain.

You should go see them for yourself! The Roman city of Volubilis, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, most likely had 20,000 residents at its peak in the 2nd century.

Don't Miss These Volubilis Highlights!

  • The Basilica.
  • Capitoline Temple.
  • Triumphal Arch.
  • The Labors of Hercules House.
  • The House of Venus.

The quickest option from Meknes to Volubilis is by taxi, which costs between MAD 210 and MAD 260 and takes 29 minutes. It is a 27.2 kilometer drive.

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