Several royal palaces were built by Moulay Ismail, but the one which has survived best until modern times is the Dar el-Makhzen, is still being used as a royal palace, although the king rarely travels to Meknes.
The other main palace, the Dar el-Kebira, meaning nothing less than "large", was destroyed in the earthquake in 1755 which even brought the centre of Lisbon down.
Because of its present-day use, the Dar el-Makhzen is out of bounds, but parts of it can be seen through gates of its crumbling walls.
