Moulay Driss Zerhoun and Volubilis
Moulay Driss is the most important pilgrimage site in Morocco. Since it is a holy place, the village was forbidden to non-Muslims until 1912, and it is only since 2005 that non-Muslims can overnight there. The village is named for Moulay Driss, one of the great-grandsons of the prophet Mohammed. The prophet is the founder of Islam.
Superbly located at the base of Mount Zerhoun, the village is surrounded by fantastic landscapes. It is also the perfect starting point for an excursion to the Roman ruins of Volubilis located less than 5 kilometres away.
Volubilis
The impressive ruins of the Roman city of Volubilis are located in the middle of a plain. It is the best preserved archeological site of Morocco, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. One of the most interesting aspects of the site is the numerous mosaics still very well preserved.
The site was settled by the Carthaginians at the beginning of the 3rd century BC., and the Romans took control of it around AD 40. At its peak, about 20,000 people were living in Volubilis and the surroundings were dedicated to wheat cultivation. The most impressive structures have been built in the 2nd and 3rd centuries.