CHEFCHAOUEN Economic Travel Guide
A handful of clouds…
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Chaouen, abbreviated as Chefchaouen, translated into Turkish as Chefshaven or Shafshavan, takes its name from the combination of two Arabic words: ‘Chef’ means looking in Arabic, and Chaouen is antler. Located between two mountains, Chefchaouen has been a strategic town.
The story of the city begins right after the Portuguese invasion of Morocco in 1471.. Abu Youma, a tribal leader, needs a secret and sheltered place to attack the Portuguese. When Abu Youma died in one of the battles, his cousin Ali Ben Rachid (Moulay Ali Ben Moussa Ben Rached El Alami) took over the responsibility.. 15. At the end of the century, Ali Ben Rachid had his family and friends brought from Granada to Chaouen.. 16. In the middle of the century, it became a route established for refugees fleeing the Spanish Inquisition.. Thus, the city grew with immigration.. Although the appearance of the city began to change with the knowledge and architectural understanding of the refugees, the main change was when the Sultan ordered the creation of ‘mellahs’ in light blue in 1760, meaning Jewish District.
To visit Chefchaouen best time; Spring (mid-March to May), autumn (September to November)
Chefchaouen attracts the attention of those looking for legendary marijuana. Before tour companies included Chefchaouen in their Moroccan tour routes, backpackers with dreadlocks were wandering here with marijuana in their mouths…
You just have to wander the narrow streets painted blue… Don’t forget to take lots of photos, diving into the blue..
HOW TO GET TO CHEFCHAOUEN: HOW TO GET TO CHEFCHAOUEN?
By Bus: Fez, Tetouan, Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Tangier and Ceuta You can reach Chefchaouen by CTM buses from cities. The city’s main bus station is 15 minutes from the center (medina).. If you do not want to walk to the city center from here, you can use the petit taxis lined up at the terminal exit.. But don’t forget to bargain.
You can also reach this city with daily tours organized from many cities such as Tangier or Fez, and with our minibuses, known as grand taxis.
CHEFCHAOUEN CITY TRANSPORTATION?
Your only alternative is walking. You can join city tours organized within the city or explore the side streets of the city by yourself, starting from the medina.
You can also have a slightly different experience by participating in hiking tours organized in the Rif mountains surrounding the city.
ACCOMMODATION IN CHEFCHAOUEN: WHERE TO STAY IN CHEFCHAOUEN?
You may have some trouble finding suitable accommodation, especially from mid-June to September. Therefore, we recommend that you book a hotel as soon as you receive your tickets.
You will see many low-priced hotels in the Medina area, almost all of which have terraces.. We did a research on booking.com and we couldn’t find a place that appeals to us from the photos.. Therefore, instead of staying here, we decided to take a day tour from Fez.
THINGS TO DO IN CHEFCHAOUEN?
The most important activity to do in this city : Hiking.
If you are going to stay in Chefchaouen for at least 2-3 days, you can spare one day to walk to Jebel al-Kalaa. During this walk, which will take at least 9 hours for a round trip, you can climb to the top of the walking paths that pass through the marijuana fields but are not marked with too many signs and watch the city from a bird’s eye view.
Azilane, Talasemtane National Park, Akchour, is one of the other mountain hiking routes outside the city.
Leather Workshops: We recommend you to stop by ateliers where you can have your own designs made.. You need to wait at least 6 days for custom made products. Therefore, if you have such an idea, you should put this item at the top of your to-do list for your Morocco tour.
WHAT TO EAT IN CHEFCHAOUEN? WHAT TO DRINK?
You can choose from local foods; Baissara (fava?), Tajine (goat or sheep stew), Harira (tomato soup), meatballs and Tagras (fish).
If you’re going to dine in Medina, the Kasbah Square (plaza Uta el Hamman) Stay away from the restaurants in You can eat pizza with. But it has to be said that their beers are expensive.
As for drinks, of course, you don’t have much choice but mint tea
SHOPPING IN CHEFCHAOUEN: WHAT TO BUY FROM CHEFCHAOUEN?
Rugs, leather goods, spices You can buy from Chefchaouen as well as in the rest of Morocco. If you have other cities in your itinerary, you can choose Fez or Marrakech for shopping, because you can find the same products much cheaper. you can find hippie style clothes to tempt.
Chefchaouen is a city famous for leather craftsmen. So much so that leather craftsmen come to this city for internship from other cities.. You will find standard and ubiquitous leather products in many shops, but if you attend a few leather workshops in the city, you can have different and customized products made to your liking.. However, the production of these special products takes at least 6 days, you may need to shape your plans accordingly.
WHERE TO SHOP IN CHEFCHAOUEN?
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You can find souvenir shops on almost every street in Chefchaouen.. Especially Medina Region is the place where souvenir shops are concentrated.
CHEFCHAOUEN CITY TOUR
Click for the 1 km long blue painted Medina Chefchaouen that is Chefchaouen old city center tour route.
- Hammam Square (Hammam, Plaza Outa el Hammam, Arabic Outa el Hammam Kasbah): Lampe Magique Casa You can enjoy views of the city from the rooftop terrace of Aladdin. You can also eat traditional Moroccan dishes at Tissemlal. While sitting here, you will see the Moroccan-style two-entrance hammam. The public bath, located opposite the Jama’a Kabir Mosque next to Pension Castellana, can be used by both men and women together.. They were then divided into men and women.. You have to bring your own belongings. Entry fee is 25 DH.
- Great Mosque (al masjid al-a’dham mosque, La Grande Mosquée de chefchaouen ): 15 by Ali ben Rachid, son of the founder of the city. It was built in the 16th century.
- Ras El Maa Waterfall (Ras el-Maa): Located outside the Medina walls, on the east waterfall means head of water. Although it is a small waterfall, it has become popular especially because of its name in Morocco tour books.. A place where locals come to do laundry and cool off on hot days. There is also a small cafe nearby.
ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE IN CHEFCHAOUEN
Chefchaouen is very not many bars or pub style places. There was a bar on Avenue Hassan II called Bar Oum-Rabiá, which is very hard to find.. We read that it’s the only bar in town. If you want to go, please do..
OTHER PLACES TO VISIT CLOSE TO CHEFCHAOUEN: ALTERNATIVE TOURS
Places that can be visited close to Chefchaouen but far from the city center are;
- Spanish Mosque (Mosquée): The construction of the white mosque, located on a hill east of Chefchaouen, started when the Spanish colonies arrived in the city.. But the opening of the mosque took place in 2010. 15 minutes walking distance from the city center. Great for sunset but actually a small white mosque on top of the mountain.
- Hotel Atlas Peak (Hôtel Atlas Chaouen): View the sunset from the top of the Atlas Hotel.
- Bridge of God (Bridge of God, Cascade D’akchour): A wonderful bridge that you can reach after a 40-minute drive from Chefchaouen..
- Talasemtane National Park
- Cascades d’Akchour Waterfall (Le cascade d’Akchour, Dchar Taourarte, Morocco)
CHEFCHAOUEN TRAVEL NOTES
Get lost in the streets for just 1 day.
Photos:
- http://www.maroc-trip.com/ -Great Mosque
- tripadvisor -Plaza Outa el Hammam & Place Outa el-Hammam
- http://riadhicham.com/- Ras El Maa Waterfall
- https ://www.onthegotours.com/ – Chefchaouen view
- https://theculturetrip.com/- Chefchaouen street view
- https://www.opnminded.com/ – Cover