Moulay Idriss

Moulay Idriss in the hills of northern Morocco. Photo Fred Martini.

The green conical roof of the tomb of Moulay Idriss stands out amidst the
hilltop city he founded. Photo Kazuhisa Otsubo.

Moulay Idriss from above. Photo Anna Maj Michelson.

Entrance to the Tomb of Moulay Idriss. Photo Kazuhisa Otsubo.

"Muslims Only" sign in French and Arabic. Photo Kazuhisa Otsubo.

Minaret at Moulay Idriss

The modern minaret of the Idriss Medersa. Photo Kazuhisa Otsubo.

Moulay Idriss is a town and important religious site in northern Morocco that makes a good day trip from Meknes (along with nearby Volubilis). For many centuries it has been a place of pilgrimage, thanks to its tomb of the city's founder, Moulay Idriss el Akhbar, a decendent of the Prophet Muhammad.

History

Moulay Idriss el Akhbar was a great-grandson of the Prophet Muhammad: his grandparents were Muhammad's daughter Fatima and Muhammad's cousin Ali.

Idriss was heir to the caliphate in Damascus, but after the civil war and Umayyad victory that led to the Shia-Sunni divide, he fled to Morocco. Arriving in 787, Moulay Idriss founded Morocco's first Arab dynasty.

He first came to power in Volubilis, the ancient Roman city that was then the main center of the north. He built his capital city on a nearby site that was more easily defended, which was later named Moulay Idriss after him. He also began construction on the city of Fes.

Word of Idriss' success reached the Umayyads in the east, and in 792 they had him poisoned. But his efforts and his kingdom lived on. His conversion of Morocco's mostly pagan Berber tribes to Islam and the support of many Arab Shiites loyal to the successors of the Prophet brought unity to the region.

After Moulay Idriss' assassination, his servant Rashid took over as regent until 807, when his son Idriss II was old enough to assume the throne of the Idrissid Dynasty.

Today, the tomb of Moulay Idriss, which was rebuilt by Moulay Ismail (1672-1727), is still much revered. It is the object of constant pilgrimage and hosts an important summer mousseum (festival) in the second week of August.

What to See

The main sight of this hilltop city is of course the tomb of Moulay Idriss, which is open only to Muslims. Good exterior views of it can be had from above and anyone can approach the entrance, which is blocked by a low wooden bar to keep animals out.

The best views of the tomb and the city can be had from the Restaurant Trois Boules d'Or (tel. 055 54 40 21; open daily 10-10) on the Terrasse Sidi Abdallah el Hajjam.

The winding streets on the way are a highlight of a visit to the town of Moulay Idriss, but it is easy to get lost. A young guide can be hired in the main square below.

Another interesting sight of Moulay Idriss is the Idriss Medersa, which was built from Roman materials taken from Volubilis. It has an unusual modern minaret (1939), which is cylindrical in shape and has a chapter from the Qur'an inscribed in green mosaics.

Quick Facts

Site Information

Names:	Moulay Idriss
Location:	Moulay Idriss, Morocco
Categories:	Shrines; Mausoleums
Faith:	Islam
Status:	active
Date:	17th century (current tomb)
Patron:	Moulay Ismail

Visitor Information

Coordinates:	34.054411° N, 5.522529° W (view on Google Maps)
Hours:	None of the shrines in Moulay Idriss are open to non-Muslims.

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Location Map

Below is a location map and aerial view of Moulay Idriss. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Morocco Map.

Article Sources

Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:

The Rough Guide to Morocco, 7th ed. (October 2004).

Article last updated: 08/18/2009.