Guide to Meknes: The Versailles of Morocco
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    Guide to Meknes: The Versailles of Morocco

    L'équipe éditoriale OLIVIANA CAR6 min

    👑 Meknes is the most underrated of Morocco's four imperial cities. Built by Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century to rival Versailles, this UNESCO World Heritage city boasts some of the country's most impressive monuments yet sees far fewer tourists than Marrakech or Fes.

    The monumental Bab Mansour gate of Meknes
    The monumental Bab Mansour gate of Meknes

    🏰 An Imperial Legacy

    Moulay Ismail dreamed of creating the grandest city in the Islamic world. He built 25 kilometers of walls, massive granaries to feed his army of 12,000 horses, and palaces that rivaled European courts. Much of this impressive infrastructure survives today.

    Getting There

    Meknes is just 60 km from Fes, making it easy to visit both cities. Rent from OLIVIANA CAR and combine Meknes with a trip to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, just 30 km away.

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    Bab Mansour

    One of the grandest gates in North Africa, this monumental entrance features stunning zellige tilework and marble columns salvaged from Volubilis. It's an iconic symbol of Meknes.

    Heri es-Souani

    The vast royal granaries and stables built to house 12,000 horses. The ingenious underground water channels kept the buildings naturally cool — an early form of air conditioning.

    Moulay Ismail Mausoleum

    One of the few religious sites in Morocco open to non-Muslims, this beautifully decorated mausoleum houses the tomb of the powerful sultan.

    Volubilis

    Just 30 km away, these remarkably preserved Roman ruins feature stunning mosaics, triumphal arches, and a basilica dating back to the 3rd century BC.

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    Comments5

    Sarah M.· 5 mo ago

    Amazing guide! We rented a car from Marrakech and drove to Essaouira following your tips. The coastal road was absolutely stunning. Highly recommend!

    Ahmed K.· 5 mo ago

    Very helpful article. I've been living in Morocco for years and still learned something new. The tips about driving in the Atlas mountains are spot on.

    Julia R.· 6 mo ago

    Thanks for this! We're planning our trip for next month and this gives us so many ideas. Can't wait to explore the Sahara!

    Marco P.· 6 mo ago

    Great read. The food recommendations were perfect — we tried everything and loved the tagine in Fes. Morocco is truly a foodie paradise.

    Fatima Z.· 6 mo ago

    Beautiful photos and well-written content. Shared this with all my friends who are planning to visit Morocco. Keep it up!

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