WHY IS THE BLUE PAINT OF CHEFCHAOUEN, MOROCCO?

WHY IS THE BLUE PAINT OF CHEFCHAOUEN, MOROCCO?

walls indigo. Azure steps. Thick turquoise doors set within gilded arches. Walking around Chefchaouen’s shifting blue medina might, after a while, feel more like swimming in the sea than exploring a town in the mountains.

However, the sky is more responsible for the well-known “dipped-in-blue” appearance than the sea. The Jews who arrived here in the 1930s fleeing Hitler’s expanding power gave the area its first vibrant coat of paint. Their color choice originated with the Jewish custom of using blue thread to weave prayer shawls, which serves as a reminder of God’s strength and ultimately the sky and heavens. (Sometimes, a less artistic rationale is offered, such as that it looks like running to keep insects away. water.WHY IS THE BLUE PAINT OF CHEFCHAOUEN, MOROCCO?

The bulk of the Jewish population left for Israel in 1948. Still, every spring the local government hands out paintbrushes to help keep Chefchaouen’s signature look intact. Adding a fresh wash of color to their homes and alleys are Berbers, Muslims, and the Spanish-speaking descendants of 15th-century exiles from across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Also ever-present are travelers: Hikers who head out into the verdant Rif Mountains, climbing to the two hornlike peaks (chaoua) that gave the town its name. Shoppers haggling over wool and camel-hair rugs dyed with colors extracted from the mountain’s plants and earth. Backpackers drawn by the area’s famed hash. (Duuuude . . . are you seeing this??) And photographers, who find a frame-worthy shot no matter which way they turn.

Getting there

Buses arrive daily from Tangier (the closest hub), but also from Fes, Casablanca, and other major cities.

WHY IS THE BLUE PAINT OF CHEFCHAOUEN, MOROCCO?

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