As in Fes, Meknes and Rabat, the town planners of the French protectorate built a new city in the first half of the 20th century based on the urbanistic principles used in France at that time (radioconcentric and/or orthogonal road network). The new part of the city was constructed to the west of the medina. The medina is surrounded by ramparts and is characterised by a labyrinth of streets.