Bab Mansour Gate

Meknes is a fortified city located 36km southwest of Fez surrounded by cedar forests, the mountains of the Middle Atlas and the oases of Tafilalt. Meknes was founded in the X century by a Berber tribe and became the capital of Morocco in 1673 when the ruler Moulay Ismail started the golden era of the city. He built there many monuments, beautiful mosques and palaces, which led it to be called the "Versailles of Morocco". Moulay Ismail fortified the city with nine beautiful gates and four-cornered towers that still stand until the current days, one of these gates is the famous Bab Mansour.

The gate was named after a formed Christian slave converted to Islam called El-Mansour, who was the architect and designer of Bab Mansour. It is 16-meter high and the beautiful Arabic calligraphy translates “I am the most beautiful gate in Morocco. I’m the moon in the sky. Property and wealth are written on my front”. Some of the decorative elements, such as the marble columns, were transported from the ruins of Volubilis, an ancient Roman city located nearby. 

The construction begun during the last years of Moulay Ismail’s reign and the gate was completed in 1732 by his son and successor Moulay Abdallah. The monument was more to impress visitors than to serve as defence. 

The towers of the gate count with the support of four columns at each corner and arches between them. The facade has stylized Moroccan motif and the spaces between each are filled with mosaic tiles. The arches are decorated with tiles in arabesque style and Arabic inscriptions are written on the top of the gate.

The Bab Mansour gate is a beautiful example of Moroccan architecture and visitors really like it. Remember that Meknes is one of the four imperial cities and there are other attractions to include during your visit. Some of the most important are the former palace now transformed into museum Dar Jamai Museum; the Mausoleum of Moulay Islamil; Place Hedim; and Bou Inania Madrasa, which is the most beautiful building in Meknes and works as school and mosque (non-Muslim visitors are allowed).

There are many horse carriages in front of Bab Mansour and you can take a ride to some of these places. 

Once you visit Bab Mansour and other attractions in Meknes, take the opportunity to visit other places that are relatively close to the imperial city, such as the ruins of the Roman city Volubilis, as it surely will enrich your experience. Volubilis dates to the III century BC and it is the most well-preserved archaeological site in the country, and many of its columns are still standing. 

On the way to Volubilis, you can do a quick stop in Moulay Idris, a holy town that has many narrow streets and a familiar feeling. Visit the tomb of Idris I, the first most important ruler of Morocco.