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Meknes (Arabic: مكناس, romanized: maknās, pronounced) is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco, located in northern central Morocco and the sixth largest city by population in the kingdom. Founded in the 11th century by the Almoravids as a military settlement, Meknes became the capital of Morocco during the reign of Sultan Ismail Ibn ...
- 370 km² (140 sq mi)
- Morocco
- 546 m (1,792 ft)
- Fès-Meknès
- Visit Bab Mansour Laleuj and the other beautiful gates around Meknes. Morocco has architecture that fascinated me even before I set foot in the country ( see 13 things that made me fall in love with Morocco).
- Bou Inania Madrasa. Bou Inania Madrasa was both a school and a mosque. It has an amazing architectural style that looks quite similar to Bab Mansour (same arch patterns and tile arrangements).
- The Royal Stables. This was probably a very impressive place when it was filled with thousands of horses (12,000 to be exact) but it has fallen into decay due to poor maintenance.
- The prison of Habs Qara. This is an underground prison where Sultan Moulay Ismail would keep prisoners far away from the public eye. The prison is so big, it is said that it could contain up to 60 000 prisoners.
- Bab El Mansour. The focus of Place El Hedim is this huge gate, perhaps the grandest of all imperial Moroccan gateways. The gate is well preserved, if a bit dulled by soot…
- Medersa Bou Inania. Opposite the Grande Mosquée, this religious school, completed in 1358, is typical of the exquisite Merinid interior design. Although it is not as lavish…
- Place El Hedim. Cleared by Moulay Ismail so his populace could better admire Bab El Mansour, this square is the social heart of the medina, and it really livens up at…
- Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Closed since 2016 for a massive renovation, the final resting place of the sultan who made Meknes his capital in the 17th century is ordinarily a must-see…
Meknes, an absolute open-air museum. The Medina of Meknes and the remains of the royal palace have earned it an undisputable place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. On El Hedime square, Bab Mansour, one of the masterpieces of Hispano-Moorish art, is the gateway to the medina.
- Take a Walk Through the City’s Historic Medina. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, Meknes’ medina dates back to the 11th century when the city was founded as a military settlement by members of the Almoravid dynasty.
- Photograph Meknes’ Medina Gates. The medina walls incorporate more than 20 gates, many of which are architectural landmarks in their own right. Of these, the most famous is Bab Mansour, commissioned by Moulay Ismail and completed five years after his death in 1732.
- Explore the Museum of Moroccan Art. Also known as Dar Jamai, the museum is housed in a 19th-century palace complete with breathtaking Andalusian architecture and a tranquil courtyard garden.
- Admire Traditional Arts at Meknes Museum. Continue your appreciation of Moroccan art at Meknes Museum, located just 400 meters away from Dar Jamai in the heart of the medina.
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Jul 15, 2019 · meknes-morocco. written by. Kirsten Henton. updated 15.07.2019. With the title of Imperial City and a UNESCO-stamped ancient medina, Meknes can rival the likes of Marrakesh, Rabat, and Fez, yet it struggles to attract the same loyal following of travellers.
Founded in 1061 A.D. by the Almoravids as a military stronghold, its name originates from the great Berber tribe Meknassa who dominated eastern Morocco as far back as the Tafilalet in the 8th century. Geographically, it is remarkably located in the Saïss Plain between the Middle Atlas and the pre-rifan massif of Zerhoun.
