Things To See In Meknes
Meknes sightseen – Things to see in Meknes?:
The city of Meknes has an unforgettable and easy-going medieval ambience. In addition, Meknes has several palaces, spectacular mosques and madrassas behind its fortified walls that feature many grand entrances, and the world famous Bab Mansour. Meknes’ exquisiteness broadens past its walls onto the periphery, where the Roman archeological location of Volubilis and the imperial stables of Moulay Ismail can be visited. Today, Meknès is the fifth biggest city in Morocco and has a great economic center that prospers on wine, mint tea and olives.
The city’s style lends an indisputable charisma, enhanced by the beauty of adjacent countryside. Travelers may appreciate its striking gates, parapets, palaces and mosques. The city of Meknes located in Northern Morocco, is 130 kilometers from the capital city Rabat and 60 kilometers from Fes. In fact, Meknes was the capital of Morocco under the regime of Moulay Ismail (1672–1727); prior to it, it was moved to Rabat. The name Meknes comes after a Berber tribe that was known as Miknasa according to medieval Arabic sources. The land upon which Meknes is founded and the surrounding provinces came under Roman Empire domination in AD 117. The original population from which Meknes can be traced dwelt in an 8th century fortress or Kasbah.
Meknes became the capital under the rule of Sultan Moulay Ismail (1672-1727), who was the founder of the Alawite Empire. The sultan Molay Ismail went on to turn Meknes into an attractive city in the Moorish-Spanish style, surrounded by great doors and high walls. Even today visitors can come across the harmonious mélange of European and Islamic styles of the 17th century in Meknes.
Things To See In Meknes
A little bit out of the old town, past the Royal Gold Course (which is protected by a huge wall), are the Heri es-Souani granaries. The site is made up of two main areas.
The first is the interior part which feels a bit like the Habs Qara prison except not as creepy. It was used to store huge amounts of grain (not people). The exterior part of the complex also has rows of stone arches but it was used to as a royal stable to keep horses and other animals. It is possible to walk from the main part of town but takes about 30 minutes at a brisk pace.
This monumental gate (bab in Arabic) was originally the principal ceremonial entrance to the Kasbah of Sultan Moulay Ismail. It’s a spectacular example of architecture from the North African Almohad Caliphate. According to one apocryphal story, once construction was complete, the sultan questioned Mansour Laalej, the architect, as to whether he reckoned he could do a better job. He didn’t know how to answer other than yes, upon which the sultan ordered the hapless man’s execution. The gate is certainly a lot prettier than this tale, embellished with engraved Quranic panels and green and white zeillij (mosaic) tiles
Descend into the former prison of prison Qara and see where the Sultan Moulay Ismail held prisoners far away from the public eye. Rather eerie and unnerving, the huge underground chamber is gloomy, with narrow passages and low ceilings and archways. It is said that the prison could hold up to 60,000 people at any given time. Slaves, prisoners of war and political prisoners were among the unfortunates detained here.
One of the most interesting sights to see in the medina of Meknes city is the Bou Inania Madrasa. This old Islamic school was founded in 1350 and is not to be confused with the one of the same name in Fez. It is a beautiful school of architecture with the detailed tiled and carved artwork on the walls that is expected of these institutions. The madrasa is a little bit tricky to find in the maze of the medina but is obvious once you get to it. As well as the main courtyard on the ground floor, you can climb up to see the bedrooms and classrooms on the upper level and then also climb up to the rooftop for a view across Meknes.
