Ultimate Moulay Idriss Gude for Solo Traveler
If you want to see real Morocco, well you should absolutely visit Moulay Idriss. Moulay Idriss is located about 25 km north of Meknès and it’s only one hour from Fez. This village is considered the holiest city of Morocco and it stretches between two small hills close to Mount Zehroun. Moulay Idriss is surrounded by a beautiful country landscape that becomes extremely lovely in spring, when the trees are blossoming and the hills get all shades of green.
WHY IS MOULAY IDRISS A HOLY CITY?
The Holy City history
The city owes its name to Moulay Idris I, the founder of the first Arab Dynasty in Morocco: the Idrisids. Moulay Idris I was, according to tradition, a descendant of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and came to Morocco in order to escape the persecutions conducted by the Abbasids.
At first Idris arrived in Volubilis (whose original name was Walili) in 786 and spread Islam among the people living there, but then he moved to the hills. He met the Berber tribes there and in a very short time they pledge allegiance to him. Idris became a Caliph in 789 and he planned to erect new beautiful buildings in Fez. Unfortunately he was killed in 792, before he could see his project completed. It was his son, Idris II, who finished what his father had started and made Fez the capital city of the Idrisid Dynasty.
Considering both the efforts that Idris I made in spreading Islam among Morocco, and his blood relation to the Prophet, he is recognized as a Saint by the Muslim community. His body is buried right here in Moulay Idriss and his Mausoleum is a sacred destination for Muslim pilgrims. It is said in Morocco that six pilgrimages to Moulay Idriss during the annual festival honoring the saint is equivalent to one Haj to Mecca.
HOW TO VISIT MOULAY IDRISS
What to see in Moulay Idriss
Moulay Idriss is only 5 km from Meknès, it’s divided into small quarters that stretches between two small hills. All the buses and taxis usually stop in the same point on the same uphill road, if you follow that road you can easily reach the city center in a few minutes. The city center is Place Muhammad IV, the main (maybe the only one) city square. You’ll find many bars and small shops here, and also the city market.
It’s very easy to reach Moulay Idriss Mausoleum from Place Muhammed IV, you’ll find many signs indicating where to go, but if you are in doubts, just follow the people: they will take you directly there. Non-Muslim are not allowed to go inside the Mausoleum, but you can still have a look at the mosque courtyard from the main gate.
There’s another particular point of interest in Moulay Idriss: here you’ll find the “Round Minaret“. This green minaret, is the only round minaret you’ll ever find in Morocco! It was built in recent times, in 1939, it is covered in green marble tiles and it has some verses of the Holy Koran written on it.
But if you want to have the best panoramic view of the city, you absolutely have to go to the most visited viewpoints: the petite terrasse and the grand terrasse. According to most travel guides it’s kind of easy to find them, but the easiest way to me was to ask local people for directions.
SOME GOOD REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT MOULAY IDRISS
Moulay Idriss was entirely excluded from main tourists routes until the beginning of 1900th: only Muslims could enter the city back then. Things have changed today: Moulay Idriss is no longer off-limits for tourist, but still it’s not affected by mass tourism.
I highly recommend you to visit this peaceful small city so you can see how real Morocco looks like: you won’t find tourists shops selling rubbish, or people bargaining for selling you carpets, you’ll only find nice welcoming people really interested in seeing someone from a far away country. They will look at you with curious and surprised eyes at first, but then they will be very happy to help you or hear about your life story while sipping a delicious mint tea together.
