#TravelTuesday - Chefchaouen, Morroco
Only in Morocco is it possible to see the Atlantic and the Mediterranean at the same time. - Tahar Ben Jelloun
Chefchaouen, Morocco
As part of my weekly series, I want to take a few minutes to talk about some incredible places around the globe. Those being on my bucket-list, and on my vision board. Sometimes I’ll take a #TravelTuesday post to write about an activity in various places, but this week I wanted to bring your attention to one of the most alluring places that has captivated me - Chefchaouen, Morocco. Also known as Blue Town.
It was founded by the Jews and Moors fleeing Spain after the dark ages and there are many mysteries about why the town is painted blue…such as a mosquito preventative and a few others, saying that it is to represent the color of the sea nearby. It is also a town up in the mountains, to be prepared to do some hiking.
Either way, be prepared to hike up the hill to get to it a bit, and prep yourself for chilly nights up in the mountains. It’s also one of the most touristy places in Morocco, so be prepared to wander through some narrow, people-filled streets. It has a population of just over 42,000 people and is known for the striking, blue-washed buildings of its old town. Leather and weaving workshops line its steep cobbled lanes. In the shady main square of Place Outa el Hammam is the red-walled Kasbah, a 15th-century fortress and dungeon, and Chefchouen Ethnographic Museum. The octagonal minaret of the Great Mosque rises nearby.
It’s on my bucket-list because I’d love to sit inside one of the small narrow streets and sip on some coffee while reading a book. It looks like an epic place and I’d love to just get lost in this lovely mountain town.
Let’s dive in to some random facts, as well.
Credit: http://tenrandomfacts.com/chefchaouen/
Chefchaouen, also known as ‘Chaouen’, or ‘Xauen’ in Spanish, is a city located in the north of Morocco, North Africa, in the Rif mountains, and it sits approximately 660 m (2165 feet) above sea level.
The name ‘Chefchaouen’, meaning ‘watch the horns’ comes from the term ‘chaoua’ meaning ‘goat’s horns’ in one of the tribal languages, in reference to the appearance of the mountains situated over the town, while the term ‘chef’ is translated as ‘looks at’.
Chefchaouen is a popular tourist site, with around 200 hotels actively used to cater for visitors that come to experience the natural beauty, and history.
In 2004, Chefchaouen had a population of 35,709, which is around 7,000 people less than the census of a decade prior.
Chefchaouen is famous for its many buildings and objects, that have either been totally or partially painted the colour blue.
Chefchaouen was originally built as a fortress in 1471, used against the Portuguese in their invasion, and the city has been a safe-haven for Jewish refugees at least twice in its history.
Chefchaouen is notable for selling an extensive variety of textiles, handcrafts and goat cheese, while the drug cannabis is widely grown in the area.
The blue painted buildings of Chefchaouen are a tradition that is believed to have begun in the 1930s, or possibly centuries earlier, started by Jewish refugees, serving as a reminder of God and a reflection of the sky.
Chefchaouen was under Spanish command from the 1920s to 1956, and it had been attacked by Spain prior to this occasion.
The blue buildings of Chefchaouen are typically repainted every two years to maintain the colour.
Little more background info I found on the internet:
Chefchaouen, a town in Morocco, is popularly known as the Blue Town. The town belongs to the Jews and has its basis on the Islamic culture. As blue is their sacred color, everything from walls to stairs to doors is in blue.
It is home to many mesmerizing peaks, valleys, and landscapes. Trekkers have a choice to trek through the Rif Mountains and Alaska ranges while viewing the Mediterranean Sea. You can also visit the Talassemtane National park, Farda River, and God's Bridge.
Here we can find Berber tribespeople wearing colorful clothes with wool hats. Visitors can shop for brass teapots, plates, handmade blankets, tortoises, Moroccan slippers, and Aztec bags from the streets of Chefchaouen. They can also taste the mint tea at the Tissemlal Restaurant. April to June is the best time to visit Chefchaouen.
A lot of people also only do day trips to the area. You can easily visit from one of the nearby cities on a tour. Here are some to get you started:
From Fes – Fes is around 3+ hours away, and this tour will give you about 4 hours of free time around Chefchaouen. Check here for prices and availability
From Tangier – Tangier is around 2+ hours away, and you’ll have about 4-5 hours to explore. Check here for prices and availability
From Rabat – Rabat is around 4 hours away, and it’ll give you about 2 hours in the city. Check here for prices and availability
Practical info about visiting Chefchaouen
Via: https://www.heartmybackpack.com/morocco/blue-city-chefchaouen/
We stayed at Dar Besmellah in Chefchaouen, which is run by the nicest family. The dad actually works in Oslo, so the son spoke some Norwegian! So random. And the daughter showed us to the local hammam when we were sad about the rain. Check current rates and availability on Booking.com here and it’s also available on Airbnb here (if you’re new to Airbnb you can click here for a discount)
There are actually a lot of nice Airbnbs in Chefchoauen, like this studio with gorgeous terrace views, this beautiful place right in the heart of the city, or this stunning four-story home, also centrally located.
And if you’re looking for more luxurious accommodation check out Dar Elrio here and Riad Cherifa here – both are incredible (and still very affordable), though they fill up quickly so book early!
Danielle and I both flew into Casablanca, so to get to Chefchaouen from Casablanca we took the CTM bus, which took 6.5 hours and cost 140 MAD. Then to get to Fes from Chefchaouen we again took the CTM bus, which took 4.5 hours and cost 75 MAD.
The journey from Chefchaouen to Fes made me very motion sick – consider taking motion sickness tablets for that one, and don’t forget to have travel insurance just in case it turns into something more serious!
Overall
Have you been?
Have you ever heard of Chefchaouen? I’m super into random off the beaten-path type places, and even though this is Morocco’s most touristy town, I’d still love to go and check it out. Mountain towns are my favorite. The cold crisp air, the views, strange languages, intersections of various cultures, the strange garments, eclectic lifestyle, there’s just something about it….no wonder why I like living in Colorado.
Anyway, let me know what you think and Chefchaouen lands on your list of places to check out. I definitely think it looks like a rad place and I’d love to explore more of Northern Africa. Especially after reading ‘The Alchemist’ which takes you through an epic adventure through Northern Africa. Grab the book here.
Leave me a comment and let me know what else is on your list of places to go and I’ll craft a post for my next #TravelTuesday blog!
Drop me a comment, shoot me an email.
Cheers,
~ Cam // info@ckcollective.co