Place El Hedim

Place El Hedim occupies a pivotal position between the medina of Meknes and the imperial city envisioned by Sultan Moulay Ismail (r. 1672-1727). Its name, which literally means 'the demolition,' is said to recall that the sultan had existing houses razed to create this vast rectangular esplanade of roughly 200 by 100 metres, laid out as a royal approach to his palace and a venue for celebrations and public events.

Lined with arcades and ochre buildings, the square faces the monumental Bab Mansour gate and houses a covered market renowned for its stalls of olives, spices, dried fruit and nougat, a local specialty. By day, the atmosphere remains relatively calm; it is in the late afternoon, especially on weekends, that the square comes alive: storytellers, musicians, fire-eaters and small street performances animate the esplanade, in an atmosphere often compared to Marrakech's Jemaa el-Fna, on a more intimate scale.

An elevated tea room, the Pavillon des Idrissides, offers a panoramic view over the square and Bab Mansour — a good way to enjoy the spectacle without joining the crowd.