Chefchaouen Kasbah

The Kasbah of Chefchaouen stands on Place Uta el-Hammam in the centre of the medina in the Rif mountains of northern Morocco. Chefchaouen was founded in 1471 by Moulay Ali ben Rachid el-Alami as a fortified base to resist Portuguese expansion along the coast, and the kasbah was built in the same period as its stronghold. After 1492 the town received waves of Muslim and Jewish refugees from Andalusia, who shaped its architecture and whitewashed, blue-washed houses. In the early 20th century Spanish forces occupied Chefchaouen in 1920, and the town later became a notable point in the Rif region's modern history. The kasbah has crenellated ochre walls, a courtyard garden planted in the Andalusian style with trees and flowers, and a tall octagonal tower that can be climbed for a view over the medina rooftops and the mountains. It has also served as a prison in some periods, and cells can be seen in the complex. Today part of the building houses the ethnographic museum, with displays of weapons, costumes, musical instruments, manuscripts, ceramics and crafts of the Rif region, arranged by theme. The fortress was restored over several campaigns, and the garden, walls and interior rooms are generally in good condition. The kasbah is entered through a gate from the plaza, beside the Grand Mosque and next to cafes with views of the fortress. A visit lets travellers combine the town's military origins with its later cultural story.