Is Fez Worth Visiting? Raw Morocco, Cheaper Than Marrakech, But More Intense

It is the site of the famous Qarawiyyin University and the Zawiya of Moulay Idris II, the most important religious and cultural sites, while Fez el-Jdid is the site of the 195 acre Royal Palace, still used by the King of Morocco today. Today, the city’s surrounding countryside, the fertile Saïss plains, is an important source of agricultural activity producing primarily cereals, beans, olives, and grapes, as well as raising livestock. Starting under Lyautey, one important policy with long-term consequences was the decision to largely forego redevelopment of existing historic walled cities in Morocco and to intentionally preserve them as sites of historic heritage, still known today as “medinas”.
The madrassa is open from 8 AM – 6 PM (always check for religious holidays and events, as this can alter times). The Kairaouine Mosque is known to be the world’s oldest university and is the second-largest mosque in Morocco. The park is open Tuesday – Sunday between 8 AM – 7.30 PM.

• Since 1963 Borj Nord has housed the Museum of Arms, with a collection running to more than 5,000 pieces from Morocco, Africa, Europe and Asia, and dating from prehistory to the 1900s.
• During this period the capital city was known as al-ʿĀliyá, with the name Fās being reserved for the separate site on the other side of the river.
• You can expect rainy days and lower temperatures between 15°C (59°F) and 18°C (64.4°F).
• Still, it’s one of the top-rated options, offering private rooms with an en-suite bathroom.
• It contains the University of al-Qarawiyyin which was founded in 857 and is the oldest continuously functioning institute of higher education in the world.

Apart from that, Fez has a lot more to offer, and you can concentrate on some of the best fez bet highlights in one day if you’re rushing out. The visit to the tanneries is brief if you’re sensitive to the smell, so keep this in mind. The tanneries are undoubtedly our highlight from Fez.
There are three tanneries in the city, largest among them is Chouara Tannery near the Saffarin Madrasa along the river. The old city contains several major historic cemeteries which stand outside the walls of Fes el-Bali, namely the cemeteries of Bab Ftouh (the most significant), Bab Mahrouk, and Bab Guissa. The Bab Guissa Mosque was also founded in the reign of Abu al-Hasan (1331–1351), but modified in later centuries. A number of mosques from the important Marinid era, when Fes Jdid was created to be the capital of Morocco, include the Great Mosque of Fez el-Jdid from 1276, the Abu al-Hasan Mosque from 1341, the Chrabliyine Mosque from 1342, and the al-Hamra Mosque from around the same period. There are numerous historic mosques in the medina, some of which are part of a madrasa or zawiya. These two historic cities are linked together and are usually referred to together as the “medina” of Fez, though this term is sometimes applied more restrictively to Fes el-Bali only.e
According to some traditions, the city’s name comes from the Arabic word فأس Faʾs, meaning pickaxe. It also contains the Chouara Tannery from the 11th century, one of the oldest tanneries in the world. It contains the University of al-Qarawiyyin which was founded in 857 and is the oldest continuously functioning institute of higher education in the world. The Medina of Fez is listed as a World Heritage Site and is one of the world’s largest and oldest urban pedestrian zones (car-free areas). The city consists of two old medina quarters, Fes el-Bali and Fes Jdid, and the much larger modern urban Ville Nouvelle area founded during the French colonial era. After the overthrow of the Marinid dynasty, the growth of Fez stalled and the city subsequently competed with Marrakesh for political and cultural influence.

Take in the Smells of the Tanneries

During this period the Jewish population of the city grew and the Mellah (Jewish quarter) was formed on the south side of this new district. Fez reached its zenith in the Marinid era (13th–15th centuries), regaining its status as political capital. Under Almoravid rule, the city gained a reputation for religious scholarship and mercantile activity. After the downfall of the Idrisid dynasty, other empires came and went until the 11th century when the Almoravid Sultan Yusuf ibn Tashfin united the two settlements into what is today’s Fes el-Bali (lit. ‘Old Fes’) quarter, a.k.a. Medina of Fez. Located to the northwest of the Atlas Mountains, it is surrounded by hills and the old city is centered around the Fez River (Oued Fes) flowing from west to east. Fez (/fɛz/) or Fesa (/fɛs/) is a city in northern inland Morocco and the capital of the Fez-Meknes administrative region.
The availability of green spaces in Fez is limited and significantly deviates from the international standard, which calls for a minimum of ten square meters of green space per resident. Fez is one of the cities expected to host matches during the 2030 FIFA World Cup and there are plans to upgrade its sports stadium before this date. The festival occurs in May or June and concerts take place at multiple venues across the city, including at historic sites such as Bab Makina (the New Mechouar) in Fes Jdid. Fez hosts the annual World Sacred Music Festival, which started in 1994 and showcases religious music from around the world.

The Royal Palace (Dar Al-Makhzen)

In 1915 it was turned into a museum of historical art and artifacts, containing around 6,000 pieces. Many old private residences have also survived to this day, in various states of conservation. The tanneries are packed with the round stone wells filled with dye or white liquids for softening the hides. Since the city’s foundation, the tanning industry has been continually operating in Fez and is considered one of the main tourist attractions. Several forts were constructed along the defensive perimeters of the medina during different time periods.
The tanning industry, for example, still embodied by tanneries of Fes el-Bali today, was a major source of exports and economic sustenance since the city’s early history. It was in this period that Fez reached its cultural peak, becoming a capital and giving rise to madrasas, mosques and some of the city defences that stand today. Not far northeast of the Mosque of al-Qarawiyyin is the largest of the city’s three tanneries going about its business in almost the same way for more than 800 years. But it’s the sounds, as much as the sights, that make Place Seffarine special, as the rest of square is given over to copperware, a craft that goes back many centuries in Fez. The university was first founded as a mosque by Fatima al-Fihri in 859 which subsequently became one of the leading spiritual and educational centers of the historic Muslim world. Multiple moussems (Sufi religious festivals) have traditionally taken place every year in honour of local Muslim saints and are typically sponsored by one or more of the city’s guilds.

History

You’ll enjoy a unique cultural experience that testifies to the rich blend of Arab-Muslim traditions and Andalusian heritage. These experiences sometimes include food tours of the souks to discover local ingredients and understand how they are used. These workshops introduce you to the techniques of preparing tajines, couscous and oriental pastries in historic riads. It’s a major place of pilgrimage in the heart of the medina, as is the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss I in the village of the same name, a few kilometers from Fès.

Our superior offering sets us apart

As the medina is car-free, we recommend parking in the official parking lots near the main gates, or choosing accommodation with a parking option. Take a day trip to the Middle Atlas and explore the monkey forest! Opt for a half-day excursion to the thermal village of Moulay Yacoub, where you’ll be fully catered for. Looking to relax in the thermal waters of northern Maroc? Known for centuries for the virtues of its hot sulfurous waters, it attracts curists and travelers alike in search of relaxation. The peaceful atmosphere of this spiritual place makes it an excellent starting point for sampling local produce such as olive oil and Saïs wines.
Discover the roots of Fes by wandering the thousands of alleys here and enjoy the largest car-free urban area in the world! The medina of Fes (Fes el Bali) is the oldest and largest in North Africa and dates back to the 9th century! The past is alive here, so take one or two days to enjoy all the best things to do in Fes! The city was once the capital of Morocco and is still widely viewed as the cultural epicenter of the country. Afterwards you’ll see Meknes, founded as an Almoravid military settlement in the 11th century, and feted for its medina and Museum of Moroccan Art. For a glimpse of the city’s Jewish history in the Mellah there’s a non-functioning but preserved synagogue dating back to the 17th century.

• Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University is a public university founded in 1975 and is the largest in the city by attendance, counting over 86,000 students in 2020.
• There are numerous historic mosques in the medina, some of which are part of a madrasa or zawiya.
• Join photographer and cultural entrepreneur Omar Chennafi on a curated photography tour blending visual exploration with cultural insight.
• The site houses a weapons museum, which was being restored at the time of our visit, and is now a cultural attraction open to the public.
• Some of the best places to dine in Fez are just inside the gateway, affording a front row view of the day-to-day in a Medieval city.
• We enjoyed this season for long strolls through the medina and cultural visits without the heavy summer heat.
• Following the revolt, Abu Yusuf Yaqub founded Fes Jdid as the new administrative and military centre.

The Palais El Glaoui, the second largest palace in the Fès medina, fascinated us with its history and its many rooms adorned with exceptional architectural details. This palatial complex includes the royal palace, a mosque, a medersa and a parade ground, testifying to the grandeur of the Moroccan monarchy. More than just a park, Jnan Sbil is a green haven where history and nature meet in the heart of the city. A real “coup de cœur” of our stay, we were captivated by this city with its 137 mosques in the medina and its ancestral tanneries perpetuating a unique know-how. Fès, the former imperial capital, fascinated us with its thousand-year-old medina, historic mosques and fine cuisine.

Perfecting the last mile, one delivery at a time

If you find yourself here while poking around the city you’ll be confronted by a row of three heavy wooden doors in horseshoe arches and flanked by high square towers topped with pointed merlons. In the middle of the Medina you’ll happen upon a tight passageway beckoning you onto a square in the shade of large old plane trees and the high minaret of the Zaouia Moulay Idriss II. This functioning royal palace in the Fes Jdid quarter is on more than 80 hectares and has been here since the 13th century.

The natural music of water

An alternative way to see the tanneries is to find a roof terrace nearby. Visit the Fes tanneries on this multi stop tour of the medina Because of this, it’s best to remember to take a bit of mint or a scarf with you instead. The tanneries are a unique part of the Fes culture and are one of the best things to do on any trip to Morocco. Be sure to check out the world-famous tanneries of Fes!
The historic city of Fez consists of Fes el-Bali, the original city on both shores of the Oued Fes (River of Fez), and the smaller Fez Jdid, founded on higher ground to the west in the 13th century. Religious tourism is also present due to the old city’s many major zawiyas (Islamic shrines), such as the Zawiya of Moulay Idris II and the Zawiya of Sidi Ahmed al-Tijani, which attract both Moroccan and international (especially West African) pilgrims. Instead, the French administration built new modern cities (the Villes Nouvelles) just outside the old cities, where European settlers largely resided with modern Western-style amenities. The walls dividing them were destroyed, bridges connecting them were built or renovated, and a new circuit of walls was constructed that encompassed both cities. In 1276 the Marinid sultan Abu Yusuf Yaqub also founded the royal administrative district of Fes Jdid (lit. ‘New Fez’), where the Royal Palace (Dar al-Makhzen) is still located today, to which extensive gardens were later added. Numerous new madrasas and mosques were constructed, many of which survive today, while other structures were restored.