Medina of Chefchaouen joins heritage register from 25 to 27 October

Medina of Chefchaouen (Médina de Chefchaouen) joined the Register of Architectural and Urban Heritage in Arab Countries during a meeting held from 25 to 27 October 2026. The registration gives the historic district in Chefchaouen, Morocco, a new regional heritage designation through ALECSO, the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization.

The decision concerns the old urban area itself, rather than a separate hotel, tour or commercial attraction. It gives visitors travelling in November 2026 a current reason to look at the medina through its history and conservation value.

Chefchaouen medina enters an Arab heritage register

The 11th meeting of the Observatory of Architectural and Urban Heritage in Arab Countries took place at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo from 25 to 27 October 2026. The registration report names the historic medinas of Boujad and Chefchaouen among three Moroccan sites added to the register.

ALECSO organised the meeting with the Arab League Department of Culture and Dialogue of Civilizations. Participants reviewed more than 60 heritage and architectural nominations, while a specialist committee assessed documentation against stated registration requirements. The process places the Chefchaouen medina in a wider Arab record of architectural and urban heritage.

The 1471 Kasbah remains the medina's historic anchor

Chefchaouen was founded in 1471 by Moulay Ali ibn Rashid as a fortified settlement in the Rif. The Kasbah represents the beginning of the town and stands in the western part of the medina, linking the recent registration with the place's earliest recorded urban history.

The Kasbah was built as a military base, fortified residence and seat of command. The wider old town developed around it, with ramparts, gates, lanes and houses reflecting Andalusian and Maghrebi traditions. A heritage register therefore relates not only to blue-painted streets but also to a layered urban structure that includes defensive and residential spaces. The Kasbah history records its position within the medina and its founding role in 1471.

Visiting Medina of Chefchaouen: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The heritage registration was made during the ALECSO meeting from 25 to 27 October 2026; the relevant venue was the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, while the registered place is the historic medina in Chefchaouen.
• The registration does not announce a new entrance, closure or special opening, so visits to the old town remain visits to its existing lanes, walls, gates and historic Kasbah.
• Chefchaouen lies in Morocco's northern Rif, and the medina is a built-up historic district centred on the Kasbah and its surrounding lanes.
• The old town includes narrow, winding passages and the Kasbah's fortified structures, so movement through the historic core involves uneven urban terrain and stairs.
• Morocco's official languages are Arabic and Amazigh, and its national currency is the Moroccan dirham.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Medina of Chefchaouen

When was Medina of Chefchaouen added to the heritage register?

The historic medina was registered during the ALECSO meeting held from 25 to 27 October 2026.

What is the historic anchor of Medina of Chefchaouen?

The Kasbah is the town's founding fortress, established in 1471 by Moulay Ali ibn Rashid.

Where is Medina of Chefchaouen and how do you get there?

It is the historic district of Chefchaouen in northern Morocco's Rif region. The old town is explored through its lanes and historic passages around the Kasbah.