Oujda

Oujda is a city in northeast Morocco, near the Algerian border. It’s known for its Great Mosque, built in the late 13th century, with intricate carved wood and mosaic tiling. The mosque is in the old town, or medina, behind ramparts and the imposing Sidi Abdelouahab gate. Numerous shops and souks sell fruit, spices, jewelry and traditional clothing. The Art Gallery of Oujda shows modern and traditional Eastern art.

 

Lalla Meryem Park has flowering plants and trees, a small outdoor theater and a museum displaying traditional weapons. Nearby, the Moorish-style Dar Sebti Palace, built in 1938, houses a center for Arab-Andalusian music. It also hosts cultural events and exhibitions. The expansive Lalla Aicha Park has walkways lined with palms and mature oaks. On the city’s southeastern outskirts is the oasis of Sidi Yahia, with waterways and palm trees. It’s the site of the mausoleum of Sidi Yahia Ben Younis, the city’s patron saint, and hosts an annual festival in his honor.