BAB EL MANSOUR Aleuj..Meknes

Bab el Mansour Aleuj is the largest and most remarkable door Meknes completed in 1732 by Moulay Abdallah, son of Sultan Moulay Ismail. It was designed by a Christian convert to Islam, hence its name: The door Mansour, the renegade. Marble columns adorning the side bastions protruding from the ruins of Volubilis.
Aside from its historical value, Bab Mansour is considered by the inhabitants of the city as a portal linking the past to the present.
Completed in 1732 by the son of Sultan Moulay Ismail, Bab el Mansour Aleuj is by far the most beautiful gate of Meknes. According to legend, this door is the work of a Christian convert to Islam, hence the name "door of the renegade."

In architectural terms, this monument is incredible. Symmetry is remarkable for a door greater. Overlooking the huge square-El Hedime, it is framed by two great bastions whose arches are placed on marble columns. Decorations that adorn the facade is beautiful.

In the image of the city and the construction of Moulay Ismail, the door combines strength and durability with a touch of elegance. It is often considered the most beautiful gate of Morocco!
The majestic gate Bab el Mansour el Aleuj is a jewel of architectural heritage left by Moulay Ismail. Fully decorated and ornate ceramics and mosaics green, multicolored faïcences are arranged in complex arabesques, it marks the entrance to the vast grounds of the imperial court.
Less extensive than that of Fez, Meknes medina is also quieter and very pleasant to go. Place Hédim is the starting point for all walks
Bab el-Khemis Dyers' Souk
Souk Sekkarin knives, tin objects
Souk Bezarîn basketry, textiles and utensils of daily use
Bab el-Jadid Musical Instruments
Souk-Nejjarine carpentry workshops
Souk es-Sebbat Shoes, fabrics, clothing ...
Souk el-Herir silky fabrics

Meknes

Meknes
Meknes At the heart of the Moroccan countryside, favorite! is Meknes, the imperial city of Moulay Ismail. With tireless ardor, an indomitable will, he undertook to make this city a capital image.Palais its mosques, fountains, terraces, gardens, stables, warehouses, granaries erected without interruption for 50 years to fill the gigantic scope designed by murailles.Rêve unfinished Moulay Ismail, Meknes never complete to dream: For gates, gates, pierce the walls to give access to the wonders of the city. The main Bab al-Mansour, the most beautiful of Morocco, leads to huge méchouar where stands the mausoleum of Moulay moving Ismaïl.Meknes fascinates with its monuments, the splendor of its palaces. One of Jamai, former residence of a vizier, houses the Museum of Moroccan Arts and its sumptuous collections of pottery, embroidery, carpets, woodwork, jewelery ... Meknes fascinated by the incredible theater of everyday life: Observer in kissarias (center traditional commercial), a merchant unfold a piece of blue cloth; assist in the bdb Jadid, a long and syrupy bargaining; comptempler in the souks, concentrated face of a craftsman who carves a silver bracelet or hands a skilled painter on wood ... And then the city of Meknes we dream by his campaign, green and soothing, gently undulating, planted with olive trees, where lounging over twenty centuries the ancient Roman city of Volubilis. Campaign which provides generously for the Mount Zerhoun where hangs the holy city of Moulay Idriss, the city green roofs
 
 MAUSOLEUM OF ISMAIL MOULAY

In the first courtyard, a charming fountain used for ablutions. The ceilings themselves are painted cedar. The third courtyard has a fountain and an Italian marble sundial dating from the seventeenth century. Then, to actually enter the mosque, you must remove your shoes. You can see the mosaics which include Koranic scripture. Besides the tombs of Moulay lsmaïl and his two son, you will see two clocks offered by Louis XIV. Moulay Ismail received the gift when the Sun King refused to grant him the hand of his daughter. The marble columns supporting the room were restored in 1957.

 THE MARKET FOR MEDINA



On the left of the place El-Hedim behind the arcades of potters, is one of the most beautiful and lively covered market in Morocco. You will find many stalls of spices and olives very diverse, but also colorful birds. Better to be armed with a sprig of mint to face the aisle to chickens and sheep spectacle worth seeing.









 BAB EL MANSOUR Aleuj

The largest and most remarkable doors Meknes. It was completed in 1732 by his son Moulay lsmaïl. Is said to be the work of a Christian convert to Islam, which is being called as the door of the Renegade

Meknes ..Historic Of City

Founded in the 11th century by the Almoravids as a military settlement, Meknes became a capital under Sultan Moulay Ismaïl (1672–1727), the founder of the Alawite dynasty. The Sultan turned it into a 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 Historic City of Meknes was the capital city for the Alaouite dynasty (17th century). Its Sultan Moulay Ismaïl redesigned the city in
Hispano-Moorish style.

Meknes is enclosed by 25 km long walls that are pierced by monumental gates like the Bab Mansour. Over 80 monuments are enlisted, including mosques, medresas, hammams and fondouks.

I visited Meknes on the morning of the 1st of January, not the best choice of times. The Place el-Hedim, Meknes’s attempt at having their own Djemaa el-Fna, looked desolate (especially under the grey clouds that didn’t want to give way to the sun). The medina was deserted, most of the shops closed. The same unfortunately was true for the Dar Jamaï Museum, advertised by my Lonely Planet guide as “one of Morocco’s best museums”.


One might also wonder why this medina has been placed on the List, next to the more mindblowing ones in Marrakech and Fez. You’ll get a medina-overdose anyway in Morocco.

As I clearly didn’t enjoy my time here in Meknes, I decided to skip the royal stables (probably closed too). I travelled on to Volubilis and Moulay Idriss on the same day, both well worth the effort so that I had a fine day after all.



If you plan a tour of Morocco you will be faced with the question of how many of the 4 “Imperial cities” (Rabat, Meknes, Fez and Marrakech) to visit. All, except Rabat, are UNESCO inscribed – which is probably about right If you have to choose, then certainly don’t miss either Marrakech or Fez! Yet Meknes is worth a couple of hours even if you are short of time and is convenient anyway for another WHS at Volubilis and a T list site at Moulay Idris. (Possibly significantly, Morocco has 4 different “Medinas” in its list but Meknes is “badged” in French and English as a “City” – I wonder why? Elsewhere the word “Medina” is used quite happily to describe an Arab “city” in its entirety including palaces, walls etc - was Morocco just getting too many “Medinas” on its list!)

Meknes was an imperial city created by Sultan Moulay Ismael which was never really completed and was then abandoned and partially destroyed by his son in favour of Marrakech. It was built in mid 17th century and has been called (inappropriately in my view) the “Versailles of Morocco” because it was approximately contemporaneous with Louis XIV and his own constructions (Moulay Ismail saw himself as superior to the French monarch and apparently suggested that Louis XIV should convert to Islam and offered to take 1 of his daughters as a wife!). Some of the palace buildings were restored and are used by the current Sultan but much remains in ruins. The walls stretch for miles and the main gate “Bab el Mansour” (photo) whose columns were taken from Volubilis is one of the architectural “highlights” – which perhaps gives you a measure of the “value scale” of what you will see. Inside the walls, the streets and souks are pleasant enough but don’t have the same sense of size and mystery as at Fez and Marrakech – one doesn’t feel “in danger” of losing oneself here!