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All Morocco Meknes Prison de Kara
AO Edited

Prison de Kara

Designed as a labyrinth, this subterranean prison was crafted without bars or doors.

Meknes, Morocco

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
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Kara Prison   Wolchief
Kara Prison   Wolchief
The underground prison in Meknes.   Andrew Brehmer
Habs Qara, also known as the Kara Prison.   Jklamo
The exterior.   Jklamo
The exterior.   Jklamo
Kara Prison   Christine Olson
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About

Constructed during the early 18th-century during the reign of Sultan Ismail bin Sharif, the Kara Prison (or Habs Qara) is a vast subterranean prison in the city of Meknes, Morocco. Its most unusual feature is that it lacked doors and bars, but it's believed that no one ever escaped.

Its inescapability despite lacking bars and doors was due to its complex labyrinth-like design. It was named after a Portuguese prisoner who was granted freedom on the condition that he constructed a prison that could house more than 40,000 inmates.

The entrance is located in Ismaili Qasba, but the labyrinth goes on for miles. Some believe it's roughly the size of the city itself, while others say it reaches the city of Taza, over a hundred miles east of Meknes. According to legends, a team of French explorers attempted to discover the vastness of the prison and never returned.  

Each hall of the dungeon contained several corridors, which led to another hall, into another, then into another.

As time went on, the prison was discontinued and was utilized as a storage facility for food. Today, a portion of the former prison is open to the public, but its true extent is still unknown. 

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As of October 2024, the site is closed for restoration work.

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Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Edited By

Max Cortesi

  • Max Cortesi

Published

October 15, 2020

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  • https://visit-meknes.com/en/portfolio/habs-qara/
Prison de Kara
Avenue Bab Marrah
Meknes
Morocco
33.89124, -5.564517
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Nearby Places

Dar Jamai Museum

Meknes, Morocco

miles away

Royal Stables of Meknes

Meknes, Morocco

miles away

Haroune Aqueduct

Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, Morocco

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Meknes

Meknes

Morocco

Places 3

Nearby Places

Dar Jamai Museum

Meknes, Morocco

miles away

Royal Stables of Meknes

Meknes, Morocco

miles away

Haroune Aqueduct

Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, Morocco

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Meknes

Meknes

Morocco

Places 3

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