Meknes is famous for its elaborate gates that decorate the long city wall. Currently, most of the city’s monuments are under restoration so unfortunately, most of those gates are covered in tarps and scaffolding. Without those beautiful landmarks to admire, we sought out other sites in the historic centre. We found mansions and mausoleums that are ornamented beyond comparison, making a visit to Meknes very rewarding.
The city of Meknes was settled in the 10th century but it was under Moulay Ismail in the 17th century that it became grand. He made Meknes his capital and set out to design one of the most beautiful cities in the land. He had ambitious plans that included building a 25 km long rampart around its perimeter, adorned with elaborate gates. Inside those walls, he planned to have elegant mosques and mansions. Even though it was only partially completed, it received the nickname the Versailles of Morocco. A few of those estates were built, but he died before his dreams were fully realized. His successor moved the capital to Marrakesh, so his elaborate plans were never fully carried out.
In addition, a month after the 1755 earthquake in Lisbon, a second earthquake hit Morocco, devastating Meknes as well as Fez and Volubilis. The Meknes Earthquake was originally thought to be an aftershock of the Lisbon Earthquake. Now it is believed that a separate fault ruptured due to changes caused by the Lisbon quake.
After the earthquake the city was rebuilt, but in the ensuing centuries, it suffered from lack of care. Work began to rebuild and restore the old city in 2019. It was projected to end in 2023. When we visited in November 2024, it appeared to still be years away from completion. Even with this ongoing construction though, there are a few excellent places to see. Come with us as we show you some of the wonderful sites in Meknes.
Dar Jamai Museum
The prettiest monument in the city is Dar Jamai. This mansion was built by the Grand Vizier (Chief Officer) to Sultan Moulay Hassan I in 1882. By Moroccan standards, it’s not very old, but it is immaculate. The two-story home has tranquil garden courtyards that lead to extravagant rooms. Each one has intricate details sculpted and painted onto the doorways, windows and columns. The designs reminded us of the Alcazabas we’d seen in Spain, but this was much more detailed and elegant. This is likely partly due to its younger age.
Wooden muqarnas drip from the doorways and eaves like melting icicles. As with the madrasas in Fez, these reminded us of the mausoleums we saw in Uzbekistan. Above them are finely crafted cedar cornices and wooden ceilings. We spent a lot of time looking up to admire these details.
Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail
The next site to visit is the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Considered the founder of Meknes, Moulay Ismail made Meknes his capital in the 17th century. This mausoleum is a glowing tribute to him. It has a rather austere exterior, but once you go through the doors, it is anything but ordinary.
The mausoleum has a series of connected rooms, each more elaborate than the last. From colourful zelliges (tiles) on the walls and floors to lace-like accents on the walls, the decor is stunning.
Moulay is an honorific title in Arabic.
As with the mansion, these designs cover every inch of the mausoleum, including the elegantly carved wooden ceilings.
Meknes Gates
After admiring the palace and mausoleum, we roamed the streets and found a few of its famous gates that were either finished or not included in the restoration.
For those looking to see the dozen or more gorgeous gates that Meknes is famous for, you may want to wait a few years before planning your trip.
Medina
The Meknes Medina is quite small compared to others we’ve visited in Morocco, but you can still find several unique scenes.
Place Lalla Aouda
Just outside the medina, Place Lalla Aouda is a nice open square with restaurants, park benches and a small garden. There are even carriage rides for hire if you like.
Royal Palace
A long road travels between the walls of the medina and the Royal Palace (Dar Al Makhzen). Given the condition of the wall, we had expected the palace to be extravagant. From the far side of the complex, we found a spot where we could look over the wall into the palace grounds. The palace looked to be in pretty rough shape, so it’s doubtful that the king ever visits.
The nearby Royal Stables looked to be in even worse shape.
Riads
By the time we reached Meknes, we had been travelling in Morocco for a few weeks and had stayed in several riads. They were not at all what we expected, and we were a little disappointed. That is until we arrived at our home away from home in Meknes. This riad was the exotic, Moroccan home we had been seeking. Its rich designs and family history to match, made our riad stay in Meknes one of our favourite parts of the city. It has been in the owner’s family since her great grandfather had it built. We highly recommend Riad Aikatib Meknes for your stay in the city. You can find it online.
Curious to see what others looked like in this city, we poked our heads in another one just down the street. It looked to be even more decadent.
How to get to Meknes
Meknes is fairly easy to reach. Trains and buses travelling between Marrakesh and Fez stop in Meknes. You can also reach most other train stations in the country through a transfer. CTM buses also connect Meknes with Fez (60 km), Chefchaouen (190 km), but to reach Tangier and Marrakesh, bus travel requires transfers. The nearest airport is Fes Sais International Airport (65 km away).
You can find Meknes just north of the middle of the map below. Click on the map to be directed to the full map.
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Coming Next – Best Day Trips From Meknes – Volubilis & Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
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