Meknes (Moroccan Arabic: مكناس, translit. məknas; Standard Moroccan Tamazight: ⴰⵎⴽⵏⴰⵙ, translit. amknas; French: Meknès; Spanish: Mequinez) is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco, located in northern central Morocco and the sixth largest city by population in the kingdom.
Founded in the
11th century by the Almoravids as a military settlement, Meknes became
capital of Morocco under the reign of Sultan Moulay Ismaïl (1672–1727), son of the founder of the Alaouite dynasty.
Sultan Moulay Ismaïl
turned Meknes into an impressive city in Spanish-Moorish style,
surrounded by high walls with great doors, where the harmonious blending
of the Islamic and European styles of the 17th century Maghreb are
still evident today.
The urban population is estimated to be more than 650,000 with the metropolitan population growing to a million. It is the seat of Meknès Prefecture and an important economic pole in the region of Fès-Meknès.
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| Volubilis |
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| Medresa Bou Inania in Meknes. |
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| Panoramic view inside the Grand Mosque |
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| Minaret of Nejarrine Mosque. |
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| Bab Berdaine Gate built in the 17th century. |
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| Bab El Khemis Gate, built in 1673, near the quarter of Riad and Mellah. |
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| Sahrij Swani. |
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| Dar El Makhzen royal palace. |
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| Bab Mansour Gate, its building finished in 1732 |
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