Gates of the Historic City of Meknès

Gate in Meknès

Gate in Meknès

Meknès is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Morocco. It is along the main train line so it was easy to get to. For better or for worse, it doesn’t have as much tourist traffic. For me it is a major plus. Make no mistake, there are still tourists here just not as many as other places. Meknès is one of Morocco’s royal cities, and it shows. One of the most prominent landmarks here in Meknès is the massive walls which surround the old city. The walls are actually interesting in themselves since they were inspired by Spanish and Moorish walls.

Walls of the Royal City of Meknès

Walls of the Royal City of Meknès

Additionally, the walls of Meknès are punctuated by several impressive gates. The most well known and best preserved of these gates is the Bab Mansour. As you might expect, the gates are designed with obviously Islamic aesthetics. There are a beauty to behold and it is a shame that Meknès doesn’t get as much attention as it should. I made my way to the walls of the city which meant that I would be going out of the city. There was another gate not too far away from Bab Mansour but it wasn’t as large as the former. The old city is larger than you think so it would take a while to circle the entire city. There would be other gates here, including one near the riad where I was staying in, but most people would be going to this one.

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