Have you thought about visiting
Meknes? It is one of Morocco's four great imperial cities, along with Fez,
Marrakech and Rabat. Often a little forgotten for the benefit of her big
sisters (and so much the better, it's less crowded), so I spent 2 full days in
Meknes during my trip to Morocco. The city is splendid! Palaces, mosques,
ramparts, stables, sublime gates ... we can no longer count the vestiges left
by the Alaouite dynasty. If you spend a few days in Fez or Rabat, for example,
I advise you to take a detour to visit Meknes!
WHAT TO DO IN MEKNES? (Places to visit)
1. The Bab Mansour gate:
It is the city's nerve centre, the
place of interest that will allow you to find your way around the labyrinth
that is the medina of Meknes (oh my god, yes). It marks the entrance to Lalla
Aouda Square and the entrance to the mosque of the same name. The royal palace
is not far away.
2. Place El Hedime:
This is the square that is just in
front of the Bab Mansour gate. It's the liveliest place in the city, without a
doubt. During the day, small restaurants and market stalls come alive. In the
evening, it's a big party. I was there during Ramadan, so it was a lot quieter,
unfortunately. But that didn't stop me from finding small open boui-boui to
snack on in the evening. I recommend that you go for a drink at the Pavillon
des Idrissides, which forms the right corner of the square, with your back to
the door. The view of the square is breathtaking, and the atmosphere super calm;
I love it!
3. The granaries of Meknes & the royal stables:
These places are a bit out of the
way but still easily accessible on foot if you like to walk. I loved these
places. The old granaries are enormous rooms with heavy doors that housed the
fruits of agriculture and imports into the city. There isn't much left, but it
was enough to transport me. As for the stables, it is a tangle of arches
overgrown with plants and herbs. Everything is tranquil, the perfect place to
take a break from the noise of the city.
4. The Sahrij Swani basin:
A stone's throw from the stables is
the Sahrij Swani basin. There isn't much to see, although I liked the idea of
a pool in the heart of the city. If it's not too hot, you can walk around
(more at the end of the day, because it's not shaded at all). On the other
hand, it's pretty neat to watch the kids throw in there with lots of rolls and
somersaults. You can try to join them if you stay dressed!
5. The Moulay Ismaïl mausoleum:
So, I'm cheating a bit, because
unfortunately, I didn't. It was closed for renovation when I visited in May
2018. But hey, it seems to be quite a must-see, especially since it is one of
the few mausoleums in Morocco that can be visited.
6. The medina:
The medina of Meknes is a whole
story in itself. I have to be honest, I didn't approach it the right way
because I arrived at night the first night. And not being able to locate me or
find my ryad, I scared myself a little. Which didn't give me confidence for the
next few days. However, this medina is sublime. A veritable labyrinth of small
narrow streets, dotted with yellow walls and heavy purple doors, hiding small
mosques and houses sheltered by moucharabieh, is sublime! I recommend that you
take 2 hours to get lost in this; it's just super pretty!
7. The Hammam:
For my part, I really wanted to experience a traditional hammam, and not a hammam offered in hotels and therefore very touristy. I had to struggle a bit to find it. I loved this moment so much; I really advise you to try the traditional hammam during your trip; I'm talking about it here!
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