The notebook of Meknès et Volubilis
Discover nature without rushing it.
Meknes presents the scope of the Imperial Mulay Ismail project through doors, storage spaces and funeral complex. Nearby, Volubilis allows you to understand an ancient city enriched by its agricultural land. Moulay Idriss Zerhoun adds a landscape of hills and a distinct religious history, in a circuit well beyond the Medina.
Identity summary
3 to 4 days
Spring · Autumn
Possible without car depending on area
City · Heritage · Countryside
Variable accessibility
Sweet rhythm
General presentation
Meknès et Volubilis
Meknes presents the scope of the Imperial Mulay Ismail project through doors, storage spaces and funeral complex. Nearby, Volubilis allows you to understand an ancient city enriched by its agricultural land. Moulay Idriss Zerhoun adds a landscape of hills and a distinct religious history, in a circuit well beyond the Medina.
The discovery of Meknes and Volubilis revolves around Bab Mansour, Mausoleum Moulay Ismaïl and Médessa Bou Inania de Meknes. The stay thus alternates between urban life, heritage and the countryside, which gives a concrete picture of the destination beyond its only best known site.
See all
For a stay of 3 to 4 days, a quiet rhythm works well. Also to be anticipated: the Heri es-Swani attices are not the royal stables; check the closures related to the restorations. The trip can be organised without a car if the drop point and local connections are selected in advance. Accessibility varies from site to site and deserves to be verified step by step.
Strengths and constraints
Strengths
- Bab Mansour
- Mausolée Moulay Ismaïl
- Médersa Bou Inania de Meknès
- Greniers et maison des norias Heri es-Swani
- Archaeological site of Volubilis
- Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
Before you choose
- The Heri es-Swani attices are not the royal stables; check the closures related to the restorations.
Places worth visiting
A selection to start dreaming and organizing the stay — not an exhaustive list of everything there is to see.
Heritage
Bab Mansour
Located south of El-Hedim Square, Bab Mansour formed the ceremonial entrance to the Shabbah of Mulay Ismail. This monumental door allows you to understand the passage between the medina spaces and Meknes' imperial project.
Heritage
Mausolée Moulay Ismaïl
The Mausoleum of Mulay Ismaïl is located in the ancient imperial kasbah of Meknes. It houses the tomb of the sovereign who reigned from 1672 to 1727 and is both a historical monument and a religious site.
Heritage
Médersa Bou Inania de Meknès
Meknes' Medessa Bou Inania is a religious educational institution of the Merinide period, known for its rich decor. It must be distinguished from the homonymous medrasa of Fez, which belongs to another stage of the journey.
Heritage
Greniers et maison des norias Heri es-Swani
Heri es-Swani includes the large attices of the imperial kasbah and the house of the adjoining norias. These facilities provided storage and water supply; presenting them as the royal stables would recur frequent confusion.
Practical tips
This information helps know if the destination matches the planned trip before starting a fuller search.
To go further
More activities
Restaurants, walks, culture, leisure and outings to search without leaving the destination card.
The nearest destinations
The closest ideas on the map, to extend your trip.
Similar destinations
Same landscapes and the same pace of travel, elsewhere in the world.
