Hello my friends in the Hive community, I hope you're doing very well!
Last Saturday afternoon, I felt like going for a little walk, just the need to breathe, to see something else, to let my legs guide me and my eyes fill with beauty. I started my walk around the Royal Palace in Meknes (also known as Dar Makhzen), and very quickly the scenery reminded me just how rich and contrasting this city is.
The walls of the Royal Palace, with their massive architecture and traditional green tiles, command respect. They silently recount centuries of history. Every corner reveals a detail: a majestic door decorated with mosaics, an imposing tower, or even a stork's nest perched on the summit. These walls are alive. They have seen eras pass by, kings, crowds, and now... a simple walker like me, phone in hand.
This palace dates back to the time of Moulay Ismaïl, the sultan who had a profound influence on the city. In the 17th century, he made Meknes the capital of his kingdom. And he didn't do things by halves! Inspired by the grandeur of the palaces of Louis 14 at Versailles, Moulay Ismaïl launched the construction of an immense palatial complex, a veritable empire within an empire.
The Dar Makhzen in Meknes is much more than just a residence. At the time, it was a colossal complex: palaces, gardens, royal stables, barracks, ponds and even a mint. It is said that the work lasted for decades, with materials brought in from all over the kingdom, and even columns and marble salvaged from the Roman ruins of Volubilis!
Today, although a large part of the complex no longer exists or is not accessible to the public, the palace remains a living place, used by the royal family during their stays in Meknes. It is well-guarded and silent, but you can feel its grandeur just by walking along its high walls and vast decorated doors.
When you walk around Dar Makhzen, particularly from Place Lalla Aouda, there is a kind of solemn calm. The streets widen, passers-by lower their voices a little, and everything seems to slow down. It's as if this district has preserved in its stones the respect due to History.
I then headed for Boulevard Abderrahmane Ben Zidane. It's a gentle transition between the old Meknes and the more modern Meknes, but what struck me most was the valley below. A real breath of fresh air. There, the landscape changes completely: trees, fields, wild grasses and a few peaceful cows... and, in the background, the buildings that form the silhouette of the modern city. It's an image I love. The contrast between nature stretching out and the city rising up.
Every now and then I take a moment to stop and look into the distance, to soak up the calm. And as is often the case, these simple moments are the ones that do the most good. There were no crowds that day, just a few passers-by, a few birds, and that light wind that made the leaves dance.
I hope you enjoyed the photos! Thanks for reading. See you soon for another walk through the streets of Meknes!
I'm Redwan from Morocco ! I've always had a passion for travelling and discovery. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than exploring new places, whether historical, archaeological or in the heart of nature. Through my blogs, you can discover the hidden gems of Morocco, whether you want to admire the fascinating architecture of a historic site, delve into the legends surrounding an archaeological site, or simply marvel at the beauty of Moroccan nature!
I took all the photos with my own Redmi Note 11 smartphone, and edited them on canva !
