Chellah, splendeur et déclin d’une ville mérinide

The archaeological park of Chellah is located on a low hill covered with vegetation overlooking the valley of the Abu Regreg river in the oldest part of the present-day city of Rabat. The site, protected by imposing walls, includes the remains of the ancient Roman city of Sala and the monuments of the Merinid necropolis (14th century), consisting of a mosque, a madrasa, a mausoleum and rooms for ablutions. It is still difficult today to establish an exact chronology of the different phases of the site's evolution. However, no urban planning project followed the construction of the monumental complex of the Merinid necropolis. Although damaged by the earthquake of 1755, the architectural complex still shows traces of different phases of occupation, ancient and medieval, with stratifications that are difficult to detect in detail.