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    Volubilis & Moulay Idriss
    Chrisi1964 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Morocco

    Volubilis & Moulay Idriss

    Point of Interest

    The Roman city of Volubilis is located approximately 30 kilometers north of Meknès at the foot of the Zerhoun Massif and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Morocco
    7. Fès & Meknes
    9. Volubilis & Moulay Idriss
    The Roman city of Volubilis is located approximately 30 kilometers north of Meknès at the foot of the Zerhoun Massif and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. A few kilometers away is the pilgrimage site of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, home to the tomb of Idris I., the founder of Morocco's first Islamic dynasty.

    Sights in Volubilis & Moulay Idriss

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Archaeological Site Volubilis
    Museum

    1Archaeological Site Volubilis

    The Roman city by the Zerhoun Massif grew under Mauretanian King Juba II, reaching 20,000 inhabitants by 200 AD. Visible: Caracalla Arch (217), Basilica, Capitol, and houses with well-preserved mosaics like House of Orpheus. UNESCO World Heritage since 1997.
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    House of Orpheus

    2House of Orpheus

    The residential building in the south of the city is named after the large mosaic in the dining room: Orpheus plays the harp for trees, animals, and birds.
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    Caracalla Arch

    3Caracalla Arch

    The Arch of Caracalla was erected in 217 AD in honour of Emperor Caracalla and his mother Julia Domna, and reconstructed 1930-1934. It stands at the end of the main street Decumanus Maximus.
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    Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss I.

    4Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss I.

    The shrine with its green pyramid roof is the center of the pilgrim city of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter it; nearby stands the cylindrical minaret of the Sentissi Mosque from 1939.
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    Restaurants in Volubilis & Moulay Idriss

    1

    Café Restaurant Ksar Pharaon

    Simple cafe-restaurant in the Kheiber quarter in Moulay Idriss, with outdoor seating. Cash only.
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    Eating & Drinking

    Tajine with Egg and Kefta

    Braised Tajine with minced meat, tomato and egg, as served by the city's eateries.

    Taktouka

    A salad with grilled peppers and tomatoes.

    Olive oil from Zerhoun

    The slopes around Moulay Idriss are covered with olive groves, the oil is sold at the market.

    Culture & History

    Roman Provincial CityVolubilis grew under the Mauretanian King Juba II and later became Roman. Around 200 AD, about 20,000 people lived here. The Caracalla Arch dates from 217. The 1755 earthquake caused severe damage, but today, especially the floor mosaics in houses like that of Orpheus are worth seeing.Moulay Idriss ZerhounIdris I became a leader in the area in 789 and died in 791. His mausoleum was rebuilt by Moulay Ismail in the 18th century. Non-Muslims were forbidden to enter the city until 1912; overnight stays only since 2005. The sanctuary itself remains reserved for Muslims. A large pilgrimage festival takes place in August.

    Exploring locally

    Getting ThereMoulay Idriss is about 28 kilometers from Meknes and 50 kilometers from Fes. From Meknes, you can take buses and grand taxis.From Moulay Idriss to Volubilis it's just a few kilometers, which you can cover by taxi or on foot.Tickets for Volubilis are also available online from the Ministry of Culture.

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    Nearby

    Meknès

    Meknès

    Meknès, 60 kilometres west of Fès, is one of the country's four Imperial Cities. Sultan Moulay Ismail made it his capital from 1672, having colossal gates, palaces, and granaries built. Its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996; Volubilis and Moulay Idriss are within excursion distance.
    Fès & Meknes

    Fès & Meknes

    The two Imperial Cities in the north of the country are only about 60 kilometres apart. The Medina of Fès has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1981, the Old Town of Meknès since 1996, and between them lie the Roman ruins of Volubilis.
    Fez

    Fez

    Fès is the oldest of Morocco's imperial cities and is considered the spiritual heart of the country. The Medina Fès el-Bali, founded by the Idrisids at the end of the 8th century, is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981. Beyond the Bab Boujloud gate, a labyrinth of alleys begins, featuring Quranic schools, tanneries, and artisan quarters.
    Rabat & Atlantic Coast

    Rabat & Atlantic Coast

    On the northern Atlantic coast are the capital Rabat, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2012, and Casablanca, the country's largest city, home to the Hassan II Mosque. Further south lies El Jadida, featuring the Portuguese fortress city of Mazagan.
    Rabat

    Rabat

    Rabat is the capital of Morocco, home to the King and government. The city lies at the mouth of the Bouregreg into the Atlantic and has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 2012 as an ensemble of a modern capital and historic city. Hassan Tower, Chellah, and the Kasbah of the Oudayas are close by.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI