Top Things to do in Meknes-Tafilalet Region
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Top 5 Ancient Ruins in Meknes-Tafilalet Region, Morocco
Discover the best top things to do in Meknes-Tafilalet Region, Morocco including Mohamed Toulali, Volubilis, Haroune Aqueduct, Ksar Oulad Abdelhalim, Mezguida.
Restaurants in Meknes-Tafilalet Region
1. Mohamed Toulali
2. Volubilis
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,806 reviews
Reviewed By 36grega - Melbourne, Australia
If you're the least bit interested in the remains of the Roman Empire, and want to avoid the hordes of tourists that go to places like Pompeii, Volubilis is an excellent alternative. It's a deserted Roman city, its heyday from 4 CE to 280 CE, now in the middle of lush fields, just 3-4 km from Moulay Idriss, about 30 km north of Meknès. You can do tours, though these are rather expensive - better and more flexible to either pay for a driver in Meknès to take you to Moulay Idriss and Volubilis for a day tour (we did this through our riad, cost 500 Dh [50 euros]), or take a shared grand taxi to Moulay Idriss, and get a taxi out to the ruins (at least one way, though you can negotiate a pick-up time). It is walkable, and you can easily see the ruins from Moulay Idriss, so not hard to get to. Entry is 70 Dh, 30 Dh for children 7-13 years old. We'd recommend going in cooler months if possible, as it was very warm even in early January - would be unbearable in summer. Take hats, sunglasses and plenty of water. We'd also recommend taking 3 hours to view the site at leisure - it's a large area (about 40 hectares) and there is a lot to see, so take your time. It's marvellous to see ruins from such a long time ago - sure, some of the pillars and arches have been restored, but to imagine you can see mosaics that were trodden on by inhabitants 2000 years ago is awe-inspiring. Archaeology is ongoing at the site, and enough of the city remains to easily feed your imagination about what an ancient Roman town looked like (though most inhabitants were local, very few actually came from Italy). If you are travelling in Morocco to Fes or Meknès, we highly recommend taking a side day-trip to Volubilis. Especially if, like us, you have at least some interest in Western Classical studies, you'll love it.
3. Haroune Aqueduct
4. Ksar Oulad Abdelhalim
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By Marf13669 - Ogdensburg, United States
Moulay Er-Rachid, brother and Caliph of Sultan Hassan I, lived and governed here from 1847. He sided with Vichy France in WWII while the King's family sided with the Allies. The ruins of Ksar Oulad Abdelhalim are part of the former palace complex. Scions of the Alaouite dynasty are still living here and live in fear that they be imprisoned or killed someday for the roll they played during the war. We wandered through this historic and cultural site admiring what used to have been. It was very interesting to walk thru what now are people's living quarters and observe the faded splendor of the past.
5. Mezguida
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2 reviews
Mezguida is a mud brick building village, it was built at the age of Sultan Moulay Ismail who ruled the kingdom of Morocco back then. Mezguida has a diverse ethnic tribes living in harmony with each other that's what make Mezguida distinguishes from other villages in the oasis of Tafilalet.
