Despite being downgraded from the status of Morocco’s capital city, there is no question that Fez, Morocco’s previous capital, remains one of the country’s most significant towns. Fez has been the capital of Morocco for almost four centuries and is still the country’s cultural hub as well as one of the most significant religious sites. The city was built in the late eighth century, and a considerable portion of Fez’s architecture remains medieval, a visual testament to the city’s history and culture.
Scrolling through our Morocco photographs, you’ll understand why Fez is a must-see – it’s interesting, with historic structures reflecting an architectural most of the globe moved beyond decades ago, and meandering tiny alleyways too small for typical autos. This implies that crowds of people will be on foot, and the streets will be filled with donkeys and mules, exactly as they were hundreds of years ago. The city is at the leading edge of Moroccan art and culture, yet it retains the same feel and look that it had centuries before the first Europeans arrived.
Getting Around in Fez
The Blue Gate at Bab Boujloud is the best point to begin your adventure through Fez’s walled city. It’s a nice site to refuel and a convenient stop for a small cab. Before stepping out of the cab, decide if you want to visit the old medina of Fez el-Bali on your own or with a guide, for as soon as you open the vehicle door, local tour guides, both professional and unofficial, will approach you to offer their services. If you don’t have a map and don’t understand French or Arabic, it may be worthwhile to hire a guide for a walking tour to help you gain your bearings and avoid getting lost – and there are over 9000 streets to get lost in!
In contrast, the Ville Nouvelle (new city) boasts broad, tree-lined avenues that are much simpler to traverse; it is this mix of medieval and contemporary that has made Fez one of Morocco’s most popular tourist sites.
Fez’s Mosques and Museums
In Fez, there are several historical monuments, museums, and mosques to discover and explore. It’s worth conducting some research and selecting the ones that appeal to you, but here are a few ideas.
The Kairouine Mosque, which has been standing for over 1,000 years, is one of the most appealing places to visit. The Kairouine Mosque is regarded as Morocco’s most prominent mosque and Islamic study institution. Non-Muslims are not permitted inside according to custom, although there are open doors that you are welcome to peek through as long as you are courteous. Even just walking along these corridors gives you an idea of how much the building has grown from a little structure to the massive structure it is now.
Even though the Kairouine Mosque is closed to most people, other Islamic schools in the area welcome visitors. Many of these institutions are hundreds of years old and include gorgeous courtyards accessed through open doors rich in elaborate craftsmanship made of anything from marble to wood. Close to this location is the tanners’ district, where you may go and see professional artisans at work.
The majestic Medersa Bou Inania is one of the few mosques in Morocco that is available to all visitors, even those who are not Muslim (also known as Madrasa Bou Inania or simply Bu Inaniya). The medersa, which was built between 1351 and 1358, is considered one of the most beautiful specimens of Merenid architecture in the world.
If you are interested in the old artisanal skills and crafts of Morocco, you should certainly visit the Fondouk el-Nejjarine. This museum exhibits Moroccan traditional woodwork and its history, which stretches back thousands of years.
Fez-tannery
Butcher with a camel’s head in Fez’s medina
Fez’s Sights and Sounds
Fez is a city where contemporary culture coexists with structures and streets that speak of centuries of experience and a past that will never be forgotten. Many of Morocco’s most known cultural events, from film festivals to art and music festivals, take place here, attracting visitors from all across the country and beyond. The annual Festival of World Sacred Music, devoted to the city’s traditions of knowledge, art, and spirituality, is one of the most prominent of these events. It originated as a peace movement in the aftermath of the first Gulf War, but has since become an established component of the global music and art scene.
And finally…
Some Fez Shopping
No trip to Fez is complete without a stroll through the workshops and souks, where you can see the manufacturing and decorating processes firsthand. Even if buying isn’t your thing, take time to roam, enjoy, and appreciate the craftsmanship before ultimately finding room in your bag for that handcrafted gift that attracted your attention. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll return for it later, since you may not be able to locate that precise small store on that particular corner of that meandering medina street again – one wrong turn, and the leather babouche you wanted are gone!
The idea of being in another era is a big component of Fez’s allure. While there is evidence of modern cultural influence everywhere, from blue jeans to boom boxes to modern goods, a traveler cannot escape the sense of the past, from the narrow streets to the buildings of old stone and wood, palaces and Islamic schools with elaborate entrances, to all the various sights that remind one of the past, from ramparts, balconies, and courtyards to the walls that were once used for defense. People’s voices—from elderly men to merchants to children—envelop this massive human beehive of a metropolis, pulling you in and leaving their imprint.
