Meknes

Meknes
The City of Meknes
Meknes Location in Morocco
Coordinates: 33°53′42″N 5°33′17″W / 33.895°N 5.55472°W / 33.895; -5.55472Coordinates: 33°53′42″N 5°33′17″W / 33.895°N 5.55472°W / 33.895; -5.55472
Country	Morocco
Region	Meknès-Tafilalet
Elevation [1]	1,801 ft (549 m)
Population (2006)
- Total	950,322

Meknes (Arabic: مكناس‎) is a city in northern Morocco, located 130 km (81 mi) from the capital Rabat and 60 km (37.3 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 950,322 (2006 estimate). It is the capital of the Meknes-Tafilalet region. Meknes is named after a Berber tribe which was known as Miknasa (native name: Imknasn) in the medieval Arabic sources.

Bab Mansour

The land upon which the city is founded and much of its surrounding territory came under the domination of the Roman Empire in AD 117. (see History of Morocco). The original community from which Meknes can be traced was an 8th century Kasbah, or fortress. A Berber tribe called the Miknasa settled there in the 10th century, and a town consequently grew around the fortress. Meknes saw its golden age as the imperial capital of Moulay Ismail following his accession to the Sultanate of Morocco.

Geography

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). Volubilis (Oualili) is about half an hour to the north, a ruined Roman town.

Historic City of Meknes*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Morocco
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iv
Reference	793
Region**	Arab States
Inscription history
Inscription	1996  (20th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO.

Among the most impressive elements of the imperial city was the grand gate named after the architect, El-Mansour, a Christian renegade who converted to Islam. 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. The story tells that when 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.

Quarters of Meknes

Agdal Bassatine Belle Vue Berrima Bni-Mhmmed Borj Meshqoq Borj Moulay Omar Diour Salam Elkasba Ennasre Hamria Hay Salam Kamilia La-Hacienda la Medina Marjane Mansour

Mellah Place d'Armes Plaisance Riad (¤) Roua Rouamzile Sbata Sidi Baba Touargua Toulal Wjeh Arouss wislane Zerhounia Zehoua Zitoune Zwitina

Bab el-Khemis Gate

Communes of Meknes

Meknès Al Ismaïlia

• Aïn Jemâa
• Aïn Karma
• Aïn Orma
• Aït Ouallal
• Al Ismaïlia
• Al Machouar Stinia
• Dar Oum Soltane
• Maknassat Azzaytoun
• Oued Rommane
• Toulal

Meknès El Menzeh

• Boufakrane
• Charqaoua
• Dkhissa
• Hamrya
• Karmet Ben Salem
• M'haya
• Majjate
• Mergassiyine
• Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
• N'zalat Bni Amar
• Oualili (Volubilis)
• Oued Jdida
• Ouislane
• Sidi Abdellah el Khayat
• Sidi Slimane Moul Al Kifane

Climate

Located near the Atlas Mountains, Meknes has a seasonal climate, shifting from cool in winter to hot days in the summer months of July-September. The nights are always cool (or colder in winter), with daytime temperatures generally rising about +10~14 C° (+18~26 F°) every day. The winter highs typically reach only 15.5°C (60°F) in December-January (see weather-table below).

Weather averages for Meknes, Morocco (1961-1990)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average high °C (°F)	15.3 (60)	16.6 (62)	18.6 (65)	20.0 (68)	23.8 (75)	27.8 (82)	32.7 (91)	32.6 (91)	29.6 (85)	24.5 (76)	19.3 (67)	15.6 (60)
Average low °C (°F)	5.2 (41)	6.3 (43)	7.2 (45)	8.8 (48)	11.5 (53)	14.6 (58)	17.7 (64)	17.9 (64)	16.2 (61)	12.8 (55)	9.1 (48)	5.8 (42)
Precipitation mm (inches)	89.4 (3.52)	84.4 (3.32)	78.4 (3.09)	74.3 (2.93)	42.6 (1.68)	12.5 (0.49)	2.1 (0.08)	1.9 (0.07)	14.1 (0.56)	47.4 (1.87)	79.6 (3.13)	81.2 (3.2)
Source: Hong Kong Observatory[1]

Industry

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.

City map

Map of central Meknès (labeled in French).

External links

• Meknes City
• Meknes photo gallery

References

• FallingRain Map - elevation = 547m (Red dots are railways)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Meknes

v • d • e World Heritage Sites in Morocco Archaeological Site of Volubilis · Historic City of Meknes · Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou · Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) · Medina of Fes el Bali  · Medina of Marrakech · Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin) · Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida)