Mechouar or mashwar (Arabic: المشور - Spanish: Mexuar) is a place mainly existing in Maghreb. It is served as a place for consultation (arabic: michawara), where government of sultan's affairs are managed.
The Mechouar may exist inside a palace as a large patio or outside of it as a Plaza square. Generally, all the area surrounding the royal palace is referred to as a "mechouar".
There are many palaces in Spain, mainly in Andalusia which have their Mexuars used at the era of Al-Andalus.