Guided tour of Fes

After Bab Bou Jeloud, begins the largest and most beautiful medina in the Maghreb, once separated into
around twenty small medinas. Narrow and dark alleys, less pleasant but more
authentic that the two main arteries are constantly expanding, so much so that Fez El-Bali
has almost a thousand derbs (dead ends).

Also known as the Mererside Medersa, the latter is the largest in Fez, its
construction lasted from 1350 to 1357 under the aegis of Sultan Abu Inan. His sculpted plasters, his
cedar woodwork today discolored, its decor in bronze, marble and onyx, its windows often
surmounted by stalactites, the mukarnas, are characteristic of the Marinid architecture. The walls of
interior patio are decorated with zelliges topped with stucco and a canopy of green tiles. The room of
prayer has notably superb old stained glass windows and a magnificent minbar. Still active,
this madrassah nowadays serves as a mosque, and represents one of the rare religious buildings of the
Morocco open to non-Muslims.

This square takes its name from the cabinetmakers' souk which stands behind a wooden door in an alley
below. Its fountain is splendid and unusual. At the bottom of the square, the "Fondouk" (house
En-Najjarine, probably built in the 17th century, it has recently been transformed into
mosque and opens onto a facade with extremely rich decoration.

On the edge of the Fez wadi which provides the water necessary for the treatment of hides, the tanners' district
de Chouara displays its bright colors. From the terraces of the surrounding houses, the view plunges into
a series of red and fawn dye basins. Skins are drying everywhere in the sun. "Wool,
skins, wax are shipped in large quantities to Europe; the most beautiful leathers remain in Fez where,
worked by skillful workers, they are used to make belghas (sort of slippers), cushions,
belts, luxury items that we come to buy from all over Morocco.

This term designates in Morocco all the Jewish districts and comes from the word melh (salt). The mellah of Fez,
considered the first in Morocco, was located near the current Jamaï Palace, in the El
Yahoudi located north of the city. The district knew the animation of a life of work and prayer,
around its small shops, its goldsmith workshops (a specialty of the Jews in the past), its
synagogues or its Talmudic schools. It is now inhabited by a Muslim majority,
mostly country people, freshly arrived in town. Among the historic buildings that have
marked the seven centuries of Jewish life: the house of the Chief Rabbi, the Danan Synagogue and the
Jewish cemetery which is located below the district.

Important commercial building built in the 17th century, including the monumental door
is unique in its structure, shape and decorative elements, has regained its beauty: warmth
cedar wood, elegant arcades, but also revival of a central district of
Medina. Around its foundouk, with its place, its fountain and the carpenters' souk, is
the object of an exemplary restoration-rehabilitation. The Foundouk Nejjarine has become a museum
wood where the woodwork of traditional architecture is exposed.

The Dar Batha Palace now houses a museum of Moroccan Arts. Carpets, Berber jewelry,
Fez pottery, illuminated Qur'ans, carved cedar wood, firearms, sculptures and stones
engraved, coins, embroidery, zelliges and chiseled stucco recovered in medersas in
ruined. Also a renowned collection of ceramics from the 14th century to the present day and of course
famous blue pottery from Fez. This museum is as interesting for its Andalusian garden as for
its beautiful collections of traditional Fassi art: manuscripts, furniture, clothing, carpets and jewelry.