Dar Zerhoune

Dar Zerhoune is a boutique guesthouse at 42 Derb Zouak in the Tazga quarter of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, a hillside holy town in Morocco's Fès-Meknès region. The town is built on two hills and is associated with Moulay Idriss I, who founded the first Moroccan Arab dynasty, and his mausoleum is one of the country's most revered pilgrimage sites. The guesthouse sits in the old town, and its terrace looks out toward the Roman ruins of Volubilis in the plain below, which can be reached by a short drive or a walk of a few kilometres. Meknès is roughly half an hour away by road and Fès a little over an hour. The house is a traditional Moroccan dwelling arranged in the local style, with small rooms, a terrace and a warm, homely character rather than formal luxury. Accommodation consists of Double Rooms and Suites, and heating is provided for the cooler months, as the town's altitude brings cold winter nights. Breakfast is served on the terrace in good weather and is a highlight of the stay, while other meals can usually be arranged or found at small local restaurants in town. There is no pool or spa, and the emphasis is on quiet, views and local hospitality. Hosts help with guides for Volubilis, walks around the town, and transport to Meknès or Fès. Published rates run from about 500 MAD in low season to about 850 MAD in high season, and the guest rating of 4.7 reflects its reputation for value and welcome. During the annual Moulay Idriss moussem the town becomes busy with pilgrims, and non-Muslims may be restricted from certain parts of the sanctuary precinct.