Let's discover the beauty of Morocco #6 : A stroll through the city centre (Meknes)

Hello,

Welcome to this new article!

The sky is clear and blue, making for a bright and pleasant day, and I'm taking you to discover the city centre of Meknes, known as ‘Hamria’. I wandered through the narrow streets and beautiful avenues of this area and took lots of photos.

‘Hamria’ is the modern district of the city of Meknes, also known as “Little Paris”. It was built during the French protectorate at the beginning of the last century. Today, Hamria is a fascinating blend of history and modernity. Its elegant buildings, wide avenues and lush green parks provide the perfect setting for walks and outdoor activities. ‘Hamria is home to a wide variety of traditional markets and modern shopping centres, making it a vibrant place where old and new meet.

Starting with this magnificent garden near the Court of Appeal.

This well-kept garden has a path lined with palm trees and various green plants. Buildings can be seen on the right-hand side. The garden provides a perfect urban setting for strolling and relaxing, with palm trees and neatly trimmed trees adding to its captivating aesthetic. It is a veritable green oasis in the heart of the city, offering visitors moments of tranquillity and relaxation.

I arrived at this little square where the pigeons gather.

This square is well known for the presence of pigeons, and is a popular place for residents and visitors to the city to feed the birds and enjoy the urban atmosphere. On the left, a person can be seen feeding the pigeons, adding a touch of life and conviviality to the place.

In the background, a building with a red and white façade catches the eye. It is one of the oldest cinemas in Meknes. On the wall of the cinema, posters of old films evoke a bygone era, when this cinema was the main centre of entertainment for the city's inhabitants.

This square reflects daily life in Meknes and bears witness to the importance of film culture in the city's history. The gathering of people and pigeons here adds a touch of charm and beauty to this historic site.

This place immediately reminds me of my older brother, who has now been living in Italy for several years. It's been so long since we've had the chance to see each other in person, and the distance makes our reunion all the more precious and eagerly awaited. Here, near this square, there's a café that holds a special place in my heart, because it was our favourite meeting place. Whenever we had a moment, we'd meet there for a good cup of coffee. We liked to sit at our usual table, a quiet place where we could talk about anything and everything, without looking at the clock.

This lively roundabout is considered to be the heart of the new town. It is the meeting point of three main avenues in Meknes: avenue Hassan II, avenue Mohammed V and avenue Allal Ben Abdellah. It is decorated with flags and has a small structure at its centre, giving it a distinctive character.

This roundabout is a dynamic centre for traffic and meetings in the new town. The convergence of these three avenues makes it a central point for social activity in Meknes.

I continued my walk along Boulevard Mohamed 5 and arrived in front of this modern building that embodies the city's modernity: ‘BANK ALMAGHREB’ the Moroccan Bank.

Located close to the bustling central roundabout, this modern building rises several storeys with an elegant white façade topped with the Moroccan flag. It is distinguished by its unique architecture, with large windows and a prominent entrance with a canopy. The area in front of the building is paved with clean, well-kept tiles. This building is one of the most emblematic landmarks in the centre of the new town.

After about 300 metres from the Moroccan bank, I took this photo from a small bridge overlooking the station. To the left of the two parallel railway tracks and the platforms there are palm trees and plants adding a touch of greenery to the scene. In the background are a few residential buildings reflecting everyday life in the city.

Near the station, there is a charming little garden that adds beauty and tranquillity to the area. It's an ideal place to take a break while waiting for the train.

Not far from the garden is the Hotel Tafilalet, an ideal choice for visitors thanks to its proximity to the station, making it easy to stay and get around.

After a good walk and exploring the centre of Meknes, it was finally time for lunch. I decided to stop off at this little restaurant to rest and enjoy a delicious meal.

The table was beautifully laid, with a plate containing two fried eggs topped with a slice of cheese. Next to it was a basket of bread, a small plate of black olives, a glass of orange juice, a bottle of water, a bottle of olive oil, a glass of tea, a teapot, and a small bowl containing ‘Amlou’: this traditional delicacy is a rich, creamy spread made from finely ground roasted almonds, pure honey, and argan oil, a rare and precious ingredient typical of the region.

It was a very pleasant lunch, with a simple and delicious meal in a friendly atmosphere. The local flavours and the intimate atmosphere of the place added a special touch to my trip to the city centre!

After a delicious meal and a moment of relaxation, I decided to continue my visit. Here I am now on the Avenue of the Royal Armed Forces.

This bustling avenue is one of the main thoroughfares of the city and serves as an exit route toward Fez, located about 60 kilometers away. Fez, known as the spiritual and intellectual capital of Morocco, is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the country. I’ll be writing posts about it very soon.

This avenue reflects the dynamism of Meknes and serves as a crucial link to other cities, offering a perfect setting for exploration and travel.

I passed by this beautiful mosque known as the 'Iran Mosque.'

The mosque stands out with its elegant and simple design, featuring a pure white façade and a tall minaret adorned with small arched windows and delicate decorations. It is set in a garden-like setting, surrounded by various trees, including palm trees. The paved path beside the mosque attracts passersby.

The Iran Mosque is one of the iconic landmarks on the road to Fez, reflecting the spiritual character and magnificent architecture of the city. It’s an ideal place for rest and meditation.

I came across this commemorative plaque mounted on a stone wall.
The plaque bears a commemorative text in Arabic, engraved on marble and framed with beautiful decorations.

The text on the plaque reads:

... Morocco is grateful to all those who have sacrificed for it, especially the leaders of the resistance and the Liberation Army. Hassan II. Speech on August 20, 1973.

This plaque expresses the Moroccan people's gratitude for the efforts and sacrifices of the resistance leaders and the Liberation Army who fought for Morocco's freedom and independence.

I discovered this old abandoned villa, which is said to have been inhabited by a French family during the protectorate period.

The villa has a distinctive architectural character that reflects the French style. Surrounded by a fence and palm trees, it exudes a particular charm.

This dilapidated and abandoned building tells stories of the past and invites us to imagine what life was like within these walls during its days of splendor. The villa remains a witness to an important historical period in the city's history

While I was at the taxi station that takes people to historic sites, I was drawn to this beautiful old building.

This building stands out with its roof covered in orange tiles, which have retained their color and aesthetic over the years. Its façade displays a sign reading 'KID LAND' along with another partially visible sign. The orange tiles and distinctive façade illustrate how traditional architecture contributes to the city's beauty.

I took a taxi and stopped near this large square that stretches out in front of one of the historic walls of Moulay Ismail. The square is open and spacious, with a few scattered blades of grass here and there. You can see the tall wall extending from left to right. This wall is part of the historical structure of Moulay Ismail, one of the most iconic sultans in Morocco's history, whom I mentioned in my recent posts.

In this large square, the 'TBOURIDA' season is held, a traditional Moroccan event that reflects courage and horsemanship. Tbourida is an artistic and heritage performance where riders, called 'farach,' wear traditional clothing and ride adorned horses. The riders perform synchronized movements and fire their rifles at the same time, creating an impressive spectacle that evokes a military charge.

'TBOURIDA' is an important part of Moroccan cultural heritage and takes place during festivals and special events, embodying horsemanship and bravery

The Other Side of the Historic Wall:

This long wall stretches over a great distance and forms an important part of the city's old defensive fortifications. It stands out with its beige color and crenellated tops, with small, evenly spaced holes along its length. In front of the wall, a tall palm tree with dense green leaves adds a touch of nature to the landscape.

At the end of this wall, there is a beautiful historic gate that reflects the splendor of traditional Moroccan architecture.

We have reached the end of this visit. Thank you very much for reading. Don't forget to follow my upcoming posts, as I will continue exploring new places around Meknes and in other major cities of the Moroccan kingdom. Take care, and see you soon!

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Photos taken by my own phone (Samsung Galaxy A04s).