Chefchaouen, the blue city

Chefchaouen is a charming little town of about 40,000 inhabitants, about 100km from Ceuta on the slopes of the Tisouka (2050m) and Megou (1616m) mountains of the Rif Mountains., which rise above the city like two horns, thus giving its name to the city (Chefchaouen in Berber means "look at the horns"). At about 660m. altitude and with very little car traffic, it breathes a limpid and fresh air that invites you to spend a few days to discover the beauty of this place and its environment ..!

The Medina of Chefchaouen - o Chaouen o Xauen - is quite quiet and small. if we enter it by one of its five doors and let ourselves be carried away by our senses, we will find ourselves flooded with many new sensations such as the smell of freshly baked bread or tajine ready to be eaten.

The wide variety of colors of the different products of the stores and bazaars contrast with the dazzling bluish white of the houses. The mixture of voices and unknown sounds will guide you along the narrow streets that inevitably wind up to the point of meeting and rest, Uta el-Hammam Square .

Here in the shade of the mulberry tree, one can relax on the terrace of a restaurant or cafeteria, while observing the comings and goings of passers-by and the beauty of the Great Mosque and the Kasbah in front.

A few steps further is the Makhzen Square with the Parador Hotel and the public car park, from where you can take an alley that leads to the north-east to Bab el-Ansar and the source of Ras el-Maa , one of the most beautiful places of Chaouen.

We can then descend along the creek cradled by the pleasant sound of water and see how women do the laundry and how still work the hydraulic mills. This beautiful walk leads us to Rif Sebbanin, the laundry area, with the Place de Sebbanin and its 15th century mosque.

From here we can continue the journey to the center of the Medina, or head for the modern city in the lower part of the city, or in the direction of the countryside ... or where leads you your way - that you make of beautiful discoveries ...!

Some other ideas to visit Chefchaouen:

• visit the Kasbah Gardens and their small museum which houses a small collection of ancient weapons as well as instruments, textiles and some historical photos of the city; there is also an art gallery inside the walls.

• go down to the modern city on a Monday or Thursday to find out the market where mountain inhabitants in traditional outfits come to offer their products.

• Go up to the small mosque Jemaa Bouzafar from Ras el-Maa to see the sunset.