Discover a city imperial Meknes.

Discover a city imperial Meknes.


Meknes is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco. Under the reign of Moulay Ismail (1672 - 1727) it was a period of great prosperity and what remains of this era of grandeur and previous eras makes this city an important step of any trip to Morocco. Moulay Ismail Meknes chosen as the capital for reasons both strategic, political and geographical. Apart from its architectural obvious even to the most casual tourists, the Kasbah of Meknes is of singular importance to the fact that this is the first great work of the Alaouite dynasty, dynasty reigning in Morocco for over 300 years.

Ismaili Kasbah is an integral part of the history of Moroccan architecture. Monuments to the imagination by both their diversity and their apparent fundamental homogeneity. A number of doors especially highlighted on the decorative (Bab Mansour and Bab Laalej Errih) provide access to a palace or a subset or even the whole Kasbah. These are essentially those doors that justify the name "Meknes, the capital of beautiful doors."
A city of Meknes was founded in the tenth century by the tribe Zenete Meknassa native to Eastern came to settle in the region attracted by the fertility of the soil, abundance of water and the charm of these gardens. A part of this tribe also founded the city of Taza. Before its construction, there was a series of villages without walls, which coexisted peacefully in the agricultural life of Berber traditions.
The Almoravids in the eleventh century fortified town. The Almohads in the twelfth century and repopulate build mosques, hammams (baths Moors) ect ... The fourth Almohad Sultan An-Nasir Mohammed, the mosque was re-added it and a mihrab (circa 1203). Abou Youssef, built a Kasbah and Meknes became the residence of viziers.
In the thirteenth century, under the reign of Mérinides many monuments will be built by Abu Youssef Abou El Hassan. It is under the Merinids that will truly become a city Meknes Hispano Maghreb.

At the time of Saâdyines, northern cities lost their importance. It was not until the late 17th century and the advent of the second Alaouite sultan for the city of Meknes is placed at the forefront of the imperial cities. Moulay Ismail, who was the first governor, gave him an extraordinary development, it would make a great capital. It is therefore habitual residence and put in value and many grand buildings: Pali sumptuous mosques, madrasahs to harmonious ensembles, gates, ramparts imposing extensive gardens, parts of water. Following the death of Moulay Ismail in 1727 his son Moulay Abdellah, continued and completed part of the work undertaken by his father. Meknes is enriched with several monuments in the reign of Sidi Mohammed ben Abdellah (1757 - 1790): he built mosques, mausoleums and palace of Dar Beida, currently occupied by the Royal Military Academy. The Alawites have continued to this day, to be builders of kings and the Kasbah of Meknes is therefore a particular significance.
Meknes currently includes an ancient city and a modern city separated by the valley of the river Boufekrane. The new town you can enjoy a nice overview of the Medina with its many minarets, its ramparts and imperial city.