Visit the Blue City (Chefchaouen) and Roman Empire in Morocco

Learn More about the Blue City

Djabal EchChaouen consists of the double peaks Djabal Kelaa or Tissoukou (2050 m) and Djabal Meggou (1116 m). Shuf means “look” in Arabic, while Chaouen (Accawen) in Berber means “horns” – this refers to the fact that the two peaks look like (sheep’s) horns, so Chefchaouen means loosely translated: “Look at the horns” (or the mountain peaks).

The town has around 43,000 inhabitants and enjoys the reputation of having water in abundance, which is why it is also nicknamed “Well City”. Chefchaouen belonged to Spanish territory for more than 30 years, and even today more people speak Spanish than French. With an ancient fortress at its heart, Chefchaouen is a pious city. Its founder, Moulay Ali Ben Rashid, was a descendant of the Prophet, and his mausoleum in Place El Ain is a place of pilgrimage for local residents.

Chefchaouen is particularly worth seeing thanks to its beautiful location in the Rif Mountains and because of its picturesque streets with the blue and white whitewashed houses. The town attracts young foreign tourists in particular. Reggae and Rai can be heard from the many cafés and restaurants, the souvenir shops and handicraft shops have geared their offerings to the international public, and more and more stylish guesthouses are opening in the alleys of the medina. Here you can spend a few nice days strolling, relaxing and drinking tea or hiking in the surrounding mountains.

The Story of Chefchaouen, Very Interesting

The city was founded in 1471 by Moulay ibu Rashid for those fleeing Spain and the Spanish-occupied cities of Tangier and Ceuta.

Founded by Muslims, it was also intended as a defensive post against the Portuguese. Another large influx of Moorish refugees poured into Chefchaouen in 1492, after the Christian conquest of Granada, giving the city a typically Andalusian appearance. The second wave of refugees, Muslims and Jews who had also been expelled from Spain, reached the city in 1609.

In 1561 Chefchaouen came under Saadian rule and remained under Sherif rule until 1912. In the 16th/17th and 19th century, Chefchaouen experienced a spiritual heyday and became one of the largest teaching centers in northern Morocco. The great Sultan Moulay Ismail (1672-1727) expanded the city and built his Sultan’s Palace (Dar el Makhzen) and the Kasbah here.

The city was forbidden territory for Christians until 1920. In 1883, the Sahara explorer and Father Charles de Foucauld, disguised as a Muslim, managed to penetrate to the closed place.

In 1912 Chefchaouen was incorporated into Spanish-occupied territory, but it was not conquered by the Spanish until 1920. It was recaptured just a few months later by the legendary Rifi rebel leader, Abd el Krim el Khattabi. For years Abd el Krim used the city as a strategic base in the fight against Spain and France. A cruel war broke out, even air raids were flown on the city. Without the help of the French, who used German poison gas, the Spaniards would probably have come from the northern part of Morocco expelled by Abd el Krim during the Rif War. In 1926, the Spaniards and French succeeded in defeating the Rif Berbers and finally incorporating the city into Spanish administrative territory.

Only in 1956, with independence, did the whole area become Moroccan again. Today, after Morocco’s independence, only about 3,500 of the 90,000 Spaniards (including soldiers and civil servants) are left in Morocco.

Here is the most popular tour you should embark on in Morocco which includes Chefchaouen.

10 days tour from Casablanca

The itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Casablanca & Transfer to Rabat Capital
Day 2: Rabat Small tour – Driver to Chefchaouen (the blue City)$
Day 3: Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes – Fes
Day 4: Sightseeing tour in Fes
Day 5: Fes – Ifrane – Cedar Forest – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert
Day 6: Merzouga Desert Excursion
Day 7: Merzouga Desert – Errisani – Todgha Gorge – Bomalen Dades
Day 8: Boumalne Dades – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Telouat
Day 9: Telouat – Tizi N’tichka – Marrakech Sightseeing tour
Day 10: Marrakech – Transfert to Casablanca airport

Visit Volubilis the Roman Ruins

The Roman ruins of Volubilis (Arabic: Oualili, pronounced: Walili) are only 4.5 km from Moulay Idris and have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. The ruined city is known for its fantastic mosaics. You can easily walk to the excavation site from Moulay Idris (approx. 45 minutes), but then hike along the main road (signposted).

A visit to the (sometimes overgrown) ruins is best in spring, when everything around is blooming and green. Admission costs 70 DH (children 30 DH), if you want you can hire a guide (approx. 150 DH for 1 hour). You can also easily explore the site on your own, e.g. using a map. Boards in French and English on individual buildings provide basic information. The open-air museum, which was under construction for years, has now officially opened. There is a simple café-restaurant next to the entrance. On the way through the ruins don’t forget sunscreen, water and a hat!

The Story of Volubilis (Here the Wonder Lies)

Volubilis is the largest Roman archaeological site in Morocco. This region was already settled under the Khartagians. Under the Romans a thriving city arose, after the division of the Roman province of Mauretania, it became the capital of the northwestern Roman province of Mauretania Tingitana.

Volubilis at the foot of Djabal Zerhoun (1118 m) was inhabited by 10,000 people in its heyday and surrounded by 40 hectares of olive tree plantations. A road connected the city with the port of Tingis (Tangier).

Volubilis, probably founded under Juba II around the year 25, experienced its heyday under Emperor Septimus Severus (193-211). Most of the buildings were built at this time. The 2350 m long city wall was renewed, and temples were built for the deities.

Numerous Berber raids on the city caused the rulers to move their residence to Tingis in the middle of the 3rd century. Christian missionaries appeared in the city, which was shortly thereafter taken by the Berbers. As the capital of the Auraba Berbers, named Oualili (derived from oleander), it remained a preferred settlement.

The population was Christianized and became Muslim only after the Arab conquest. Idris ibn Abdallah, later Idris I and descendant of the Prophet’s daughter Fatima, asked for asylum here in 786 after the expulsion of the Shiites under Caliph Harun al Rashid. He quickly became the leader of the Auraba Berbers and united many Berber tribes in the area under his leadership. However, the caliph of Baghdad reached as far as Volubilis, so that Idris I fell victim to poisoning instigated by Harun al Rashid in 792 and was buried by his followers on a rocky outcrop of the Zerhoun massif not far from Volubilis. To be closer to their saint, the Berbers moved their dwellings to the tomb and the city of Moulay Idris was born. Volubilis fell into disrepair and was temporarily used as a quarry.

Here are two most popular tours you should embark on in Morocco which includes Volubilis (Roman Empire).

8 days tour from Casablanca

The itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Casablanca & Transfer to Chefchaouen Via Rabat
Day 2: Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes – Fes
Day 3: Sightseeing tour in Fes
Day 4: Fes – Ifrane – Cedar Forest – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert
Day 5: Merzouga Desert Excursion Around Erg Chebbi Dunes
Day 6: Merzouga Desert – Errisani – Todgha Gorge – Bomalen Dades
Day 7: Boumalne Dades – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Tizi N T’ichka – Marrakech
Day 8: Marrakech Sightseeing tour – Airport Transfer