Museum of Moroccan arts in an 1882 vizier's palace on Place El Hedim
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Dar Jamai Museum, Meknes
Museum of Moroccan arts in an 1882 vizier's palace on Place El Hedim
The Dar Jamai Museum occupies a graceful palace built in 1882 by the Jamai family, who served as viziers under Sultan Moulay Hassan, at the northern edge of Place El Hedim in the Meknes medina. Taken over during the French protectorate, it opened as a museum in 1920 and today shows Moroccan arts from Meknes and the wider region: ceramics, woodwork, embroidery, carpets and jewellery, most from the 19th and 20th centuries, with some older pieces from the era of Moulay Ismail. The building is itself an exhibit, decorated with carved and painted cedar, sculpted plaster and colourful zellij, and centred on a courtyard garden with orange trees. Since 2014 it has been dedicated to Morocco's music heritage as a national museum of music.
Why visit
The Dar Jamai Museum in Meknes is set in an 1882 palace built by the Jamai family of viziers, on the north edge of Place El Hedim.
It displays Moroccan arts from Meknes and the region — ceramics, woodwork, embroidery, carpets and jewellery — mostly from the 19th and 20th centuries.
The palace itself is the highlight, richly worked in carved and painted cedar, sculpted plaster and zellij around a courtyard garden of orange trees.
What to expect
Rooms of decorative arts arranged over more than one floor around a planted riad courtyard, with a raised menzeh pavilion overlooking the garden.
Since 2014 the collection focuses on Morocco's musical heritage, alongside the palace's own zellij, carved plaster and painted-cedar interiors.
Best time
Mornings are quietest for the galleries and the courtyard garden. Opening days and hours can change, so check locally before visiting.
Practical tips
The museum stands on the north edge of Place El Hedim, directly opposite Bab Mansour, so it pairs naturally with a walk on the square.
It is a small palace museum; allow around an hour and combine it with the medina souks just behind it.
Location
Meknes
FAQs
The museum shows Moroccan decorative arts from Meknes and the region — ceramics, woodwork, embroidery, carpets and jewellery, mostly from the 19th and 20th centuries — inside a lavishly decorated 1882 palace. Since 2014 it has focused on Morocco's musical heritage.
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