Meknes ⵎⴽⵏⴰⵙ/مكناس
From the Palais de Ville
Meknes Location in Morocco
Coordinates: 33°53′42″N 5°33′17″W / 33.89500°N 5.55472°W / 33.89500; -5.55472Coordinates: 33°53′42″N 5°33′17″W / 33.89500°N 5.55472°W / 33.89500; -5.55472
Country	Morocco
Region	Meknès-Tafilalet
Elevation[1]	1,801 ft (549 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	785,000
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: Historic City of Meknes
Type:	Cultural
Criteria:	iv
Designated:	1996 (20th session)
Reference No.	793
State Party:	Morocco
Region:	Arab States

Meknes (Arabic: مكناس‎, Berber: ⵎⴽⵏⴰⵙ Mknas or Ameknas, French: Meknès, Spanish: Mequinez) is a city in northern Morocco, 130 kilometres (81 mi) from the capital Rabat and 60 kilometres (37 mi) from Fes. It is served by the A2 expressway between those two cities and by the corresponding railway. Meknes was the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismail (1672–1727), before it was relocated to Marrakech. The population is 785,000 (2010 census). It is the capital of the Meknes-Tafilalet region. Meknes is named after a Berber tribe which was known as Miknasa (native Berber name: Imeknasen) in the medieval North African sources.

History [edit]

A Berber tribe called the Miknasa, originally from the Tunisian south, settled here in the 9th century.

The Almoravids founded a fortress here in the 11th century. It resisted the Almohads rise, and was thus destroyed by them, only to be rebuilt in a larger size with mosques and large fortifications. Under the Merinids it received further madrasas, kasbahs and mosques in the early 14th century, and continued to thrive under the Wattasid dynasty. Meknes saw its golden age as the imperial capital of Moulay Ismail following his accession to the Sultanate of Morocco (1672–1727). He installed under the old city a large prison to house Christian sailors captured on the sea, and also constructed numerous edifices, gardens, monumental gates, mosques (whence the city's nickname of "City of a Hundred Minarets") and the large line of wall, having a length of 40 km.

According to the ICOMOS Heritage at Risk report of 2000, the historic city of Meknes contains insufficient drainage systems, and as a result suffers from inundation and leakage in certain areas.^[2]

Geography [edit]

Neighboring cities to the south: Azrou, connecting via the N13 road, is a cedar region with the noted "College d'Azrou" where many members of the post-independence elite derived); and Ifrane (Al Akhawayn University).

Climate [edit]

Located near the Atlas Mountains, Meknes has a seasonal climate, shifting from cool in winter to hot days in the summer months of June–September. The nights are always cool (or colder in winter), with daytime temperatures generally rising to 10–14 °C (50–57 °F) every day. The winter highs typically reach only 15.5 °C (60 °F) in December–January (see weather-table below).

Medresa Bou Inania in Meknes.

View of Meknes old city.

Bab el-Khemis Gate

Dar El Makhzen royal palace.

Bab Mansour.

Quarters [edit]

Prefecture [edit]

Meknes is the seat of the prefecture of Meknès, which consists of 6 municipalities (including the city Meknes) and 15 rural communes.^[4]

Main sights [edit]

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• Dar El Makhzen palace, located in El Mechouar Stinia. It is sided by a 2 km-long corridor formed by two large walls. It was Moulay Ismaïl's official palace.
• Bab Mansour gate, named after the architect, El-Mansour. It was completed 5 years after Moulay Ismail's death, in 1732. The design of the gate plays with Almohad patterns. It has zellij mosaics of excellent quality. The marble columns were taken from the Roman ruins of Volubilis. When the structure was completed, Moulay Ismail inspected the gate, asking El-Mansur if he could do better. El-Mansur felt complied to answer yes, making the sultan so furious he had him executed. Still, according to historical records, the gate was finished after Moulay Ismail's death. The gate itself is now used as an arts and crafts gallery; entry is by a side gate.
• Lahboul gardens. It houses a zoological garden and an open-air theatre.
• Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, built in 1703 by Ahmed Eddahbi
• Néjjarine Mosque (10th century), located in the old city.
• The Grand Mosque, founded in the 11th century by the Almoravids. It has 11 gates and 143 arcades.
• Koubat Al Khayatin ("Ambassador's Hall"): a pavilion in which sultan Moulay Ismaïl received foreign ambassadors.
• Bab Lakhmis: a large decorated gate from the 17th century.
• Bab Berdaïne: a majestic gate built by Moulay Ismaïl in the 17th century.
• Dar El Beida, a 19th-century palace built by sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah. It is currently home to the Royal Military Academy.
• Royal stables
• Agdal reservoir, built by Moulay Ismail. It measures 319 x 149 meters, with a depth of 2 m.
• Cara subterranean prison.

The ruins of the Roman town of Volubilis (Oualili) are about half an hour to the north.

Industry [edit]

There are 171 industrial units in Meknes, employing 10,358 people. The chief industries are food processing, textile manufacturing, chemical and para-chemical industry, and metallic and mechanical industry.

Bab Berdieyinne mosque [edit]

The Bab Berdieyinne mosque (Arab: بردعين, French: Berdaïne), constructed in the 17th century, is located in the historical city center. On 19 February 2010, its minaret collapsed during Friday prayers, causing at least 41 fatalities and many injuries. The area had received heavy rain over the preceding days. King Mohammed VI ordered the minaret be rebuilt according to historical specifications.^[5][6]

International relations [edit]

See also List of twin towns and sister cities in Morocco

Twin towns – Sister cities [edit]

Meknes is twinned with:

• Nîmes, France

References [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Meknes

v t e Meknès Prefecture Capital: Meknes Municipalities Al Machouar - Stinia Boufakrane Meknes Moulay Driss Zerhoun Ouislane Toulal Rural communes Ain Jemaa Ain Karma Ain Orma Ait Ouallal Charqaoua Dar Oum Soltane Dkhissa Karmet Ben Salem M'Haya Majjate Mrhassiyine N'Zalat Bni Amar Oualili Oued Jdida Oued Rommane Sidi Abdallah Al Khayat Sidi Slimane Moul Al Kifane

v t e Prefectures and provinces of Morocco Prefectures Agadir-Ida Ou Tanane Casablanca Fahs-Anjra Fès-Dar-Dbibegh Inezgane-Aït Melloul Marrakesh Meknès Mohammedia Oujda-Angad Rabat Safi Salé Skhirat-Témara Tangier-Assilah Provinces Al Haouz Al Hoceïma Aousserd Assa-Zag Azilal Ben Slimane Béni-Mellal Berkane Boujdour Boulemane Chefchaouen Chichaoua Chtouka Aït Baha El Hajeb El Jadida El Kelaa des Sraghna Errachidia Es Semara Essaouira Figuig Guelmim Ifrane Jerada Kénitra Khémisset Khénifra Khouribg Laâyoune Larache Médiouna Midelt Moulay Yacoub Nador Nouaceur Ouarzazate Oued Ed-Dahab Safi Sefrou Settat Sidi Kacem Tan-Tan Taounate Taourirt Taroudant Tata Taza Tétouan Tiznit Zagora

v t e World Heritage Sites in Morocco Northern Medina of Fes el Bali Rabat, modern capital and historic city: a shared heritage Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin) Archaeological Site of Volubilis Historic City of Meknes Central Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) Medina of Marrakech Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida) Southern Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou