Place El Makhzen

Place El Makhzen is a quieter square beside the Kasbah walls in the medina of Chefchaouen, in the Rif mountains of northern Morocco. It sits about two minutes on foot from the main plaza, Plaza Uta el-Hammam, but feels removed from it, since most day visitors remain on the busier main square. The square is a small, paved space framed by whitewashed and blue-washed buildings, with shaded terraces, a few trees and benches. It is home to the Hotel Parador, one of the better known older hotels in the medina, whose terrace looks across the square toward the Kasbah wall and offers a calm place for mint tea or a meal. Visitors use the square as a rest stop between walks through the lanes, a place to sit in the shade, or a quieter alternative for a drink when the main square is crowded. A visit takes 15 to 30 minutes unless visitors stop for a longer meal. Photographers can capture the ochre Kasbah wall rising above the square, the contrast between blue-washed walls and the sky, and the shadows cast by the trees in late afternoon. The best time is late afternoon, when the light is warm, the heat has eased and families come out to use the space; mornings are also calm. The square is rarely crowded, though tour groups sometimes pass through on their way to or from the Kasbah. Because it is a residential and hotel area, noise levels are low, and visitors are asked to keep to the same courtesy. Prices at the terraces are comparable to the main square, and visitors should check menu prices before ordering. There is no entry fee. The square provides a useful orientation point, since the Kasbah entrance, the Grand Mosque and several lanes to the Quartier Andalous are all within a short walk.