Located in Meknes, Morocco

Description

Found within the most visited archaeological site in Morocco, Volubilis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed for being “an exceptionally well preserved example of a large Roman colonial town on the fringes of the Empire.” Volubilis was founded in the 3rd century BC as a Berber settlement. Following capture by the Romans two centuries later, the city would become the capital of Mauritania. Lost to Rome in the late 3rd century AD, Volubilis was never recaptured. Volubilis would change hands over the years before abandonment in the 11th century AD.

The site was found and excavated by the French starting in the early 1800s, continuing through to 1997 where it became a UNESCO site. Volubilis is considered an active archaeological site.

UNESCO: Archaeological Site of Volubilis

Contact and information

The site is open daily at 8:30 am, closing one hour before sunset. There is a Visitor Center adjacent to the ruins.

+212 5355-44103

3CCW+JM Fertassa, Morocco
Musée de Volubilis, Rte de Volubilis, Morocco

Chip’s Notes

The location does not have its own website, but there is a lot of useful information at visit-meknes.com. The UNESCO page referenced above has interesting historical info. Various architectural and travel sites also discuss Volubilis, particularly this one.

And we loved exploring these ruins, even though it was 100 degrees when we arrived!