Meknes

Meknès — Morocco’s forgotten imperial city — is perhaps the kingdom’s greatest hidden gem: a city of extraordinary monuments, labyrinthine medina streets, and world-class wine country, visited by a fraction of the tourists who crowd Marrakech and Fès. Built as Morocco’s imperial capital by Sultan Moulay Ismail (1672–1727), who modeled it on Versailles after hearing descriptions of Louis XIV’s palace, Meknès contains some of the most ambitious architectural achievements in Moroccan history. At its peak, the imperial city housed 50 palaces, 20 gates, 40 kilometers of walls, and stables for 12,000 horses. Bab Mansour — the monumental gateway to the imperial city — is considered the finest ornamental gate in all of Morocco and one of the most beautiful city gates in the Islamic world. Its horseshoe arch, faced with intricate geometric zellij tilework and flanked by enormous columns salvaged from the Roman site of Volubilis, frames a perspective of absolute grandeur. The adjacent Lahdim Square buzzes with storytellers, musicians, and orange juice vendors — a smaller, gentler version of Marrakech’s Djemaa el-Fna. The Heri es-Souani (Royal Granaries and Stables) is one of the most haunting ruins in Morocco — a vast, vaulted complex of stone storerooms covering 15 hectares, designed to provision the sultan’s armies and accommodate 12,000 horses. Its massive walls still stand, and the interior creates an extraordinary atmosphere of dark stone arches and shafts of light. Meknès is surrounded by Morocco’s premier wine country — the Meknes-Fès wine region produces some of the finest wines in Africa, benefiting from the altitude (550m), continental climate, and well-drained soils of the surrounding plains. Top experiences: Bab Mansour gate | Heri es-Souani granaries | Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail | Lahdim Square | Meknès medina | Day trip to Volubilis Roman ruins (30km) | Day trip to Moulay Idriss holy city | Wine tasting at local producers. Best time to visit: Year-round. Best combined with Fès (60km) and Volubilis. Altitude: 550m.