Meknès: 3 must-see attractions

The Medina and its remains. Meknes has an enclosed wall and gates of monumental proportions like those of Bab Mansour. Also known as "the city of a hundred Minarets", because of its numerous Mosques, you can also see the remains of the former Royal palace, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismaïl, or the Dar Jamaï museum, which was transformed into a sublime Andalusian style residence built in 1881.

Also known as "Maison Jamaï", this beautiful palatial residence was once the residence of the great vizier of Sultan Hassan, and perfectly reflects the lifestyle of the famous t Moroccan families at the end of the 19th century. All the rooms of this period are still in use today, including bedrooms, reception rooms, a pool and gardens, a Mosque, a Moorish bath, a Foundouk ( which is accommodation for passing merchants, to mention just a few! It's now known as the Museum of Indigenous Arts, and its rooms are used as exhibition rooms dedicated to Moroccan know-how and craftsmanship: ceramics, embroidery, pottery, painted and carved wood, weaving... Before being turned into a museum, the palace was also used for a short period as a military hospital under the French Protectorate.

In Arabic, a Medersa is a Koranic school, a theological university where the Muslim religion is taught. The Bou Inania Medersa in Meknes is the largest in the city but also one of the most beautiful in the whole country. It's situated in the heart of the Medina, a few steps from the Dar Jamaï Museum. A real treasure from the Merinids era, its traditional architecture is composed of carved Cedarwood, blue and green Mosaics, and moucharabiehs, such a delightful sight for the eyes! Nowadays, the Medersa is open to the public, both Muslim and non-Muslim alike, for only a few dirhams. It's interesting to visit the small rooms that served as dormitories for the students!