Chefchaouen; The Blue City In Morocco

Chefchaouen: 4 reasons that make it unique

Chefchaouen, the blue city in Morocco. Although it may not have the reputation of imperial cities like Marrakech or Fes, it is not as globally known as the Sahara desert. The Blue City is probably one of the most pleasant surprises our agency has trips to Morocco offers. In this article, we tell you four reasons that make this small city of just 40,000 inhabitants unique, related to its beauty, traditions, and surroundings.

Reason 1: Its location between mountains

The blue city in Morocco, or “Chaouen”, as this city is also known, is located at the foot of the Tisouka (2050 m) and Megou (1616 m) mountains in the Rif Mountain Range. Interestingly, its name derives from it: in the Berber language, it means “look at the horns”, about the original form of both geographical features. Thanks to this, the panoramas that can be enjoyed here are very special, either with these ‘horns’ as a backdrop or as a place to admire the medina’s beautiful hamlet.

Reason 2: It’s color

Chaouen is known by many as the ‘blue town of Morocco’ for the fascinating color that permeates the walls of its medina and even the floor and stairways of its intricate streets. A light blue that also blends with the white, resulting in a very special, almost celestial tone. Its inhabitants use it to ‘purify’ the place, as well as to sanitize it and bring freshness to the environment. And they do it almost obsessively, sometimes renewing the color several times a year.

Reason 3: Crafts

Chefchaouen, the blue city in Morocco, As is practically everywhere in Morocco, crafts are very much alive there. In this case, the most prominent are the garments and accessories in wool, of very thick consistency, since its microclimate is colder than in other areas of the country due to its proximity to the Rif. Leather is also worked excellently; food is produced by hand, as with fresh cheese. The central square Uta el-Hammam is a good place to do this shopping, where you will also find restaurants to restore strength.

Reason 4: Its surroundings

The monuments in the city are numerous and very interesting, as is the case of the Kasbah, a construction of military origin and imposing invoice, next to which an ethnographic museum is located. But one of the most amazing places in this area is located precisely in the surroundings, about 30 km from the city: Akchour Chefchaouen, a fascinating natural park with pine trees, gorges, and above all, natural waterfalls of unusual beauty. Also called the Bridge of God, whose natural arch is 35 meters high. In addition, it is a perfect starting point for hiking trails through the Talasemart National Park.

And for practical purposes, this city is very close to the Spanish border, about 100 km from Ceuta, so organizing a quick trip to Chefchaouen from this Autonomous City is possible. What else do you need to make a getaway to this unknown jewel?