Moulay Idriss Zerhoun

Moulay Idriss Zerhoun is a hillside town in northern Morocco, about 30 kilometres from Meknès and close to the Roman ruins of Volubilis. It is named after Idris I, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad who arrived in the region in 788 and founded the Idrisid dynasty, the first Muslim dynasty to rule Morocco. He died in 791 and was buried here, and the town became the holiest site in the country. The shrine and the town are often described as the spiritual heart of Morocco. The current mausoleum was rebuilt in the early 18th century under Moulay Ismail and has been repaired many times since. It has a green-tiled roof, a decorated entrance and a courtyard with a fountain, and the quarter around it is a traditional pilgrim centre. Non-Muslims cannot enter the shrine itself, and until the 1900s were not allowed to stay overnight in the town. The town today is built on two hills, and houses are tightly packed and mostly whitewashed. A notable feature is the unusual cylindrical minaret of the Sidi Abdallah el Hajjam mosque, one of the few round minarets in Morocco, covered in green and white tile. Each August the town hosts the annual moussem, a large pilgrimage and festival that fills the streets. The old town can be explored on foot, with steep alleys and terraces that offer views across the valley toward Volubilis. Entry to the streets is free, and the town is open all day. Because it is a religious town, visitors should dress modestly and be respectful when near the shrine. Many travellers combine Moulay Idriss with Volubilis on a day trip from Meknès or Fès.