Fes (Fez) Travel Guide

Introduction

Fes (Fez) is “old town” and Morocco’s oldest Imperial city, and now it’s a?UNESCO World Heritage site. The old town of Medina is called Fes el-Bali and it’s a magical high walls behind its. In every one of its 9000 narrow streets a medieval city just teeming with life. Fes is the spiritual and cultural capital of Morocco and certainly you’ll experience its vibrancy.

Called ville nouvelle as the new part of Fes, it is totally different from the medina and was built by the French. The wide boulevards traffic is hectic and are lined with modern shops. If you prefer larger Westernized hotels, there’s not much to see, but this is definitely where you’d stay.

Best Time to Go

Best time to visit Fes is from April to June and September to November. There are fewer tourists and it’s not too hot. In June, usually The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music is held and planning your trip around here is certainly worth.

Fes top attractions:

Fes el-Bali

The entire old medina (Fes el-Bali) is the biggest attraction in Fes. Just hire a guide through your Riad or hotel is the best way to get around it to see its main sights. It needs around 250 dirhams for a full day. What you’d like to see that you can tell the guide exactly and tell him or her what language you prefer and specify if you don’t want to buy a carpet. There’s no need for a guide anymore, once you feel comfortable getting lost, and to point you in a good map or the right direction, you can simply rely on friendly shopkeepers.

Some of joy in old Fes are finding a donkey drinking from the most fabulously tiled fountain you’ll ever see, turning down little alleys, ducking into a local Hammam, watching local artisans at work, and enjoying a good scrub. If you’re a woman, this is a good way to meet local friends.

In old Fes, there are two main alleys; the Talaa Seghir and the Talaa Kebira. At the main gate of Bab Bou Jeloud, Both end up. Head for either of these, If you are get lost, and ask for the direction of the Bab Bou Jeloud. It is quite impressive with The Bab Bou Jeloud, but it’s the little square that you’ll enjoy even more with rooftop restaurants. The service of? The Kasbah restaurant is pretty good and decent; while you stare at the goings on below they don’t mind you lingering over mint tea.

Tanneries

For its leather products Fes is famous and most of it comes in old Fes from the leather bazaar (souq). Since medieval times, the tanneries have been in operation and little has changed, which absolutely makes them fascinating to visit.

You have to head into a leather shop, in order to visit the tanneries filled to the brim with jackets, handbags and color known to man and every conceivable design slippers. To make a little commission off of your visit, this is not just an excuse for your guide. Looking from these shops is the best views of the tanneries and not buying anything is no problem and giving the salesperson, who handed us a small tip, a sprig of mint. When you visit the tanneries, Sprigs of fresh mint are an essential accoutrement since the animal hides are stinky, and the pigeon poop they’re treated in doesn’t smell so sweet either.

To visit the tanneries it’s best in the morning because the different colored dyes are make for some great photos at their most vivid. A salesperson will give you what dyes come from what plants and the rundown on how the hides are treated.

Kairaouine Mosque

The Kairaouine Mosque, tucked deep into the heart of the medina, is huge but you can barely get a good glimpse of its size because in between hundreds of homes and shops, it’s simply wedged. You won’t be able to go inside unless you’re a Muslim, 20,000 people can pray here. However, when the doors are open tourists can peek in and marvel at the beautiful tile work, since the Mosque has recently opened up again after extensive renovations. One of the most oldest and important in the world here is The library.

If you bang your head on a wooden beam in an alley, you’ll know you’re getting close to the mosque. The beams were placed and it also stops mules from getting too close, so when approaching the mosque people would lower their heads.

Museums

In old Fes, there are 3 museums that offer a place to get some rest from the bustle of the streets and are worth visiting. The Nejjarine Museum of Crafts and Wooden Arts is in a beautiful building with a nice little rooftop cafe. With the objects on display maybe we will not too impressed, but just for the building itself the museum was worth a visit. It has a very interesting display of artwork in The Dar Batha Museum, especially the traditional blue-colored pottery Fes if you enjoy it. Similar artwork to Dar Batha is The Belghazi Museum, but if you like, you can buy it here! Inside a palace, the museum is housed and is a good place to enjoy some lunch.

Medersas

Worth visiting in old Fes, there are two Medersas (religious schools). Bou Inania Medersa was built in the 1300’s and has some beautiful examples of Merenid woodwork and plasterwork. Medersa el-Attarine offers fantastic views of the old city from its rooftop and is also filled with examples of excellent Merenid craftsmanship.

The Mellah

It is the old Jewish quarter of Fes, The Mellah, and from the rest of the medina, you can tell the architecture differs. Houses are very un-Muslim like, with windows and balconies overlooking the streets. It is quite eye-popping here with The Jewish cemetery, with white tombstones as far as the eye can see heading down the side of a hill, some are teetering right over the edge. With having a guide bring you here it’s worth to tell you some of the history of the area.

Merenid Tombs

Located outside the walls of old-Fes, in the Merenid Tombs you see them from most rooftops in Fes. To get a good view of Fes as the sun sets, tourists traditionally head up the hill to the tombs. The tombs themselves aren’t much to look at.

Tags: fes, fez, Morocco

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