RAKEN Travel  >  Morocco  > The Imperial Cities  > Meknes

The Imperial Cities  :   Fez   Marrakesh   Rabat   Meknes

A historic place, witness of architectural splendour and artistic genius. Meknes is a city where the remains of two large civilisations left their marks, the Romans and Islam. History will take you to the first Muslim Arab dynasties, founded by Moulay Idriss, whose mausoleum can be visited. Among the Roman traces, there is the ancient city of Volubilis, Morocco's principal archaeological site.

Meknes, Morocco's capital between 1672 and 1727, is situated South-West of Fez and renowned for its monuments dating from the 14th to the 18th centuries, its city walls with magnificent doors (Bab El Mansour) and the Dar Jamai museum.

Built in 1882, of Moroccan and Andalus architecture, this palace was the residence of Abu Abdallah Jamai, Grand Vizir to the Sultan Moulay Hassan the First. It is known for its famous cupola hall, sumptuously decorated with Zellige ceramics, painted wood and sculptured plaster.

During World War I, this aristocratic dwelling was used as a military hospital; it then became the Museum of Handicrafts from Meknes, the Middle Atlas and the Rif mountains.

Nowadays, this museum with its typically Andalus gardens, eagerly preserves the secrets of these regions' artisan works: wood carving, weaving, embroidery, jewellery, braziery and other manual works.

Building on its history and traditions, Meknes resists the wrath of nature and time, a magical and mystic city, legacy to the World.