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Arab States. Fez or Fes ( / fɛz /; Arabic: فاس, romanized : fās) is a city in northern inland Morocco and the capital of the Fès-Meknès administrative region. It is the second largest city in Morocco, with a population of 1.11 million, according to the 2014 census. [2]
- +212 (53)
- 789
- 414 m (1,358 ft)
- Morocco
- Overview
- Tips from locals
Lose yourself in the Moroccan city’s maze-like medina and discover crafts, cafes and age-old mansions awash with colourful tiles.
This article was adapted from National Geographic Traveller (UK).
To step into the Fez medina is to enter one of the greatest medieval cities in the world. Its tangled network of lanes is home to extraordinary Islamic architecture — elaborate mosques, palaces and madrasas (theological schools) — but it’s the magic of the everyday that enchants most: artisans hammering patterns into brass, donkeys ferrying sacks of spices between the souks, the waft of fresh mint tea drifting from a doorway. It may seem like a vision from Arabian Nights, but this is no fantasy — Fez is a living, working city rather than one preserved largely for tourists, and it’s that character that makes it so bewitching.
Spend time getting lost in the labyrinth of the Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, making new discoveries every time you set out — perhaps an elegant courtyard or a decrepit palace, its tiled floors and creaking colonnades awaiting renovation. First, order a fresh fruit smoothie and admire the views of the old city from the rooftop of Nagham Cafe, close to the Bab Bou Jeoud gate that leads into it.
Apart from the odd donkey, the medina is traffic-free and made for ambling. A fine starting point is the Tala'a Kebira, a long street winding through the old city. There are numerous sites of architectural interest along the way, marked by two medieval madrasas at either end: the Bou Inania Madrasa in the south west and Al-Attarine Madrasa in the north east. Both are fine introductions to Moroccan craftsmanship, with every surface decorated in intricate tiling, plasterwork and carved cedar wood.
It’s best not to be in too much of a hurry to get between those two points — hours can be lost meandering through this city. Stop to sample snails or fava bean soup from a street stall, but if you’re after something more substantial to eat, head up to the rooftop of Cafe Clock, near the southern end of Tala’a Kebira. There are some interesting local dishes on the menu, including camel burger, and the cafe also hosts cooking classes that include a tour of a local market to pick out ingredients — a good way to get a handle on Moroccan cuisine.
Kate Kvalvik and her husband Alaa Said restored an ancient former palace in the medina and now run it as the guesthouse Dar Seffarine.
Ain Nokbi
This district, just outside the medina, is home to a group of workshops specialising in clay tiles (zellige) and pottery. Moroccan zellige has an extensive colour palette and complex geometry. In the workshops, you can observe the whole tile-making process.
Nejjarine Museum
My favourite museum in Morocco is in an impressive building built in the early 19th century as an inn for visiting traders. Today, it houses a private collection of wooden arts and crafts from across the country. There’s also a peaceful rooftop cafe.
Guided tours
Regional Tourism Council Fez-Meknes. Address : Avenue des Alaouites – Fès 30.000. Tel : 0535 942 492. Fax : 0535 650 188. Email : crtfes2014@gmail.com. Fez Visit website. Imperial city testifying to thirteen centuries of history, the city of Fez offers you a pleasant stay: medinas, riads, traditional crafts, tanneries, walls and gastronomy.
Apr 30, 2018 · Fez has regular direct flights from several European capitals, especially London and Paris, plus internal connections with Morocco’s main cities; also from the latter by train, bus, and shared taxi.
- 2 min
- Amar Grover
Criterion (v): The Medina of Fez constitutes an outstanding example of a medieval town created during the very first centuries of Islamisation of Morocco and presenting an original type of human settlement and traditional occupation of the land representative of Moroccan urban culture over a long historical period (from the 9th to the beginning ...
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Fez was founded in 789 A.D. by Moulay Idriss II, the son of the founder of modern Morocco, though the origin of the city’s name is unknown. Some scholars believe it comes from the old Berber name of the Middle Atlas mountains, Fazaz; while other stories trace the name back to a tale of a golden axe that divided the river of Fez into two ...
The city of Fez. Fez (فاس) (French: "Fès") is a city in Morocco famous for being home to the world's oldest university (Qarawiyyin University), dating to 859, and the world's oldest continuously-operating library, dating to 1359. It has an ancient World Heritage listed walled city, which many compare to the walled city of Jerusalem.
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