Description of the attraction
Meknes is one of the imperial cities of the African country of Morocco. It is located in the north of the Middle Atlas on a mountain plateau 60 km from Fez. Very often this city is called the Moroccan Versailles or “the city of a hundred minarets”.
Meknes has preserved many historical monuments. Like most of the ancient cities of Morocco, it is divided into two parts - New and Old (Medina). Even during the reign of the Great Sultan Moulay Ismail, Medina was fenced with a powerful 10-kilometer stone wall with the Bab Mansur entrance gate, which later became the most beautiful gate in the country. The wall was erected to protect the city from Berber raids. In 1996, due to the special combination of European and Islamic traditions in local architecture, the old part of Morocco Meknes was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The streets of Medina are very picturesque. Today, the Medina of Meknes is one of the busiest urban places; it is here that El Hedim Square is located, which connects the imperial part with the old city. El Hedim Square has wonderful bazaars, open to shoppers from early morning. On the market, visitors are offered all kinds of handicrafts, works of local craftsmen - a huge number of wonderful carpets, tapestries and quality fabrics. In addition, the square has the opportunity to see amazing performances of acrobats, snake charmers and fire eaters. El Hedim Square is an unforgettable medieval world.
Not far from here, next to the Great Mosque, there is a real masterpiece of Spanish-Arab architecture - the building of the Bu-Inania madrasah, which has not been used as a school for a long time and is open to visitors. Of particular note is the El Mansour Palace, a bourgeois house of the late 19th century, converted into a covered market.
