Chefchaouen: Old Town, Kasbah and Handicrafts

Chefchaouen’s Old Town can be explored through its different stories: Bab Souk and Souika represent different trading connections, while the Kasbah reflects distinctive architectural history and handicrafts. Ras El Ma adds another perspective through the gardens and orchards of the surrounding valley. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Chefchaouen, thinking about your travel interests may help: are you more interested in market traditions, architecture or the history of the landscape?

Neighbourhoods with Market and Handicraft Traditions

Bab Souk is the most recently built neighbourhood in the Old Town and was built in 1609. A market is held at the historic Bab Souk gate on Mondays and Thursdays. These weekdays give your plans a specific time frame; check the market day before your visit. Souika is also a neighbourhood in the Old Town, but it has a different trading connection: it is an important place for selling traditional handicrafts to the mountain population. Souika is also associated with Chefchaouen’s first market. This illustrates two different aspects of the market tradition: Bab Souk links the market to a specific location and set weekdays, while Souika is associated with the history of the first market and the trade in handicrafts.

The Kasbah: Architectural History and Handicrafts

The Kasbah is in the northwestern part of the Old Town and was built in 1471. Its construction date therefore predates that of Bab Souk. The Kasbah includes an Andalusian-style garden. The Heritage Centre in the Kasbah, formerly the Kasbah Ethnographic Museum, houses three workshops for woodwork, zellij and plasterwork used in artistic decoration in northern Morocco and al-Andalus. Alongside the workshops, distinctive architectural details define the Kasbah: its 13 towers are connected by a passageway made of rammed earth. The largest and tallest tower is the four-storey Portuguese Tower, which formerly served as a watchtower. The connection between the towers and the single, particularly tall tower show two different scales within the same complex. In 2005, part of the Kasbah was converted into an open-air theatre.

Ras El Ma and the Gardens of the Valley

Ras El Ma offers a different focus from architectural and trading history. The spring provided abundant clear freshwater, making lush gardens and fertile orchards possible along the surrounding valley. The connection between the spring and cultivation makes the history of the landscape a distinct way of looking at Chefchaouen. If, alongside architecture and handicrafts, you’re also interested in the relationship between water and cultivation, the gardens and orchards offer a specific point of connection.

Choosing a Focus for Your Trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Chefchaouen, your preferred focus can guide your plans. The market offers a specific weekday connection; the Kasbah combines architecture and workshops, while Ras El Ma draws attention to the gardens in the valley. Consider which of these sides of the city most appeals to your travel interests, and take the stated market days into account when planning a market visit.

Discover more destinations: Taferka, Fnideq, Dchar Bine El Ouidane, Maaza, Amsa, Mediar, Tangier, Mejlaw

For the regional travel overview: Tangier-Tétouan.