While in Tangier, you should not deny yourself a short trip to the small, once closed, almost magical city of Chaouen. Along the way, which takes only 2 hours, you can see the surroundings of Tangier, look at Berbers going about their business, and enjoy the beautiful scenery. And now, a whole new world– a blue city with a very unusual history – opens up in front of you.

Chaouen or, as it is also called, Chefchaouen, is a very old city. Scientists still don't know exactly when it appeared on the map. It is assumed that this place has been a settlement of Berbers since ancient times. And in 1471, there was a fortress where the locals defended themselves from the Portuguese invaders.

However, it is known for sure that the heyday of Chefchaouen began with the arrival of the Jews. In 1492, the Spanish rulers issued a verdict that required the Jews to either convert to Catholicism or leave the country. Therefore, most of the Jews left Spain and settled here, on the territory of Morocco, in the city of Chefchaouen. Then Muslim Moors, who were also undesirables to the Spanish crown, started coming here. At first, the city was divided into two parts according to different confessions. But over time, the borders were erased, and Chefchaouen became a Sephardic community.

After a few years, the city was completely closed to infidels and declared a sacred place. It was impossible to get here without special permits. Perhaps, this is why it has preserved its unique flavor for so long. The only European who managed to get into Chefchaouen was the Frenchman Charles Eugène de Foucauld, who, under the guise of a rabbi, came here in 1883 to study this unusual settlement.

Today, Chefchaouen is a tourist jewel of Morocco. Here, in Medina, you can see how the masters work: minting jewelry, making dishes, weaving carpets. You will be surprised at how much the brown mosque contrasts with the rest of the landscape. It's just worth coming here to enjoy the beauty of pure blue and admire the unusual ancient architecture, that is simple but so cozy and attractive.