Delicious! Towards the end of the 19th century Sultan Hassan I reinforced the Fes Jdid quarter with a series of fortifications. Set in a 16th-century fortress constructed on the orders of Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour, the Borj Nord is a relatively new museum, opened in 2016, containing items from all … Today, it is one of the city’s most impressive examples of Maranid architecture, with the courtyard in particular a masterpiece of … 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. 2. This peaceful slice of nature is the only public garden in the busy medina. Don’t leave without seeing the 12-ton Saadian cannon that saw action in the Battle of Three Kings (1578), Source: documentary diverse / shutterstock. The Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace is a former palace has been renovated into what is now a gorgeous 5-star hotel offering guests the royal treatment while visiting Fes. Adjacent to the gardens is the grand mosque Fes el-Jdid, with the most beautifully embellished minaret! Read the 6 best things to see and do in Morocco. Don’t miss out on this great thing to do in Fes. Step inside for a break from bargaining and enjoy the beautiful water features, birds, plants, flowers, and palm tree-lined walkways. Soon after came the 9th-century University of al-Qarawiyyin, the oldest place of higher education in the world. See Tripadvisor's 56,007 traveler reviews and photos of Fes attractions for thrifty travelers Some cooking classes last for only 3 hours, where you will be taught your preferred Moroccan dish. We’ve mentioned that the labyrinthine Fez of Medina has 9,000 alleys and 40,000 dead ends, as well as a history that is just as tangled. To get this view overlooking the tannery, you have to enter one of the many leather shops surrounding the tannery. The 11 Best Things to do in Fes, Morocco 1. You’ll hear the clang of craftsmen shaping and polishing their wares long before set foot on Place Saffarine. This oasis of calm, amongst the craziness of Fes, is located close to the Kairaouine Mosque and the Chouara leather tannery. Ideally, choose a hotel or riad in the center of the medina to be close to the main sights and to avoid getting lost late at night. Note: non-Muslim visitors are not allowed to see the inside of the shrine, the saint’s grave and the sanctuary surrounding it. Things to Do in Fes, Fes-Boulemane Region: See Tripadvisor's 56 768 traveller reviews and photos of 190 Fes attractions. Required fields are marked *. Standout rooms are the harem and the outsized kitchen. Make sure to know which signs you should follow before you leave your riad or hotel because even Google Maps can find it hard to navigate in this maze. Because of its narrow streets, it is very easy to get lost, something we experienced ourselves a few times. Moroccan architecture makes for beautiful earthy colored houses with flat rooftops. Monday-closed. The Bab Bou Jeloud dates to 1913 from the time of the French Protectorate, and is in a neo-Moorish style known as Mauresque. The skill and man-hours in this space boggles the mind. Fess combines old and new and blends culture and atmosphere in a unique way that will truly amaze any visitor. You can go in to look up at the three storeys of galleries, and peruse a showcase of artful wood-carving from the city’s past. There are many cooking classes in Fez where tourists and locals can learn about scrumptious Moroccan cuisine and bread making. This is held by many as the greatest walled city in the Arab world, where the intertwining streets are so dark and narrow that you can’t even see them from the lookouts atop the valley. This way you can get up high for a birds-eye view. Over time this complex became known by its sahrij, the ornamented ablution pool in its courtyard, which is where the name comes from. Take a glimpse at the dazzling exterior of the royal palace. Marvel at the intricately wooden carved doors, which truly make you feel transported back to medieval Morrocco. Fez el-Bali, this UNESCO world heritage city is the cultural hot spot of Morocco, a place to see and to feel the typical buzzing Moroccan life.The Medina (old town) of Fes city is the largest and most vibrant in North Africa. Take the opportunity to stay in a traditional riad in Fes. Once you’re in Fes, the main sights of the city are walkable. For shade there are palms, orange trees, pines and an avenue of skyscraping cypresses. Dar Batha has been a museum for more than a century now, and is a repository for artefacts from Old Fez’s ruined buildings. Despite these limits, the outside of the shrine is beautiful and worth seeing. Opposite is the bimah (raised orator’s platform) and has a wrought iron openwork canopy with horseshoe arches and floral motifs. Fez Morocco is famous for its leather tannery, and it’s one of the main tourist attractions in Fez. Tip: Cafe clock also offers cooking classes! All aspects of traditional craftsmanship are on show, in the form of jewellery, zellige mosaics, embroidery, wrought iron, coins and carpets. Downstairs is a mikvah (bath) for women, still with water, and you can head up to a terrace with a view of the cemetery next door. 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. One of the best ways to see Fes is to find a great rooftop cafe, or bar (like Cafe Clock), and enjoy the city from above. We got a $40 Airbnb discount for you! Note the cedar wood doors, which have been smoothed by pilgrims kissing and stroking their surface over the centuries. Waking early the next morning you’ll be taken up to the dunes to watch the sun come up across the Algerian border before making the trip back to Fez at a leisurely pace with regular rest stops. It’s located very close to the popular Bab Boujloud Gate “The Blue Gate”. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. At one time, the city was the capital of Morocco, taking over the title from Marrakech, over 570km to the south. 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. The old city of Medina or Fes is full of narrow lanes, beautiful soups, and ancient tombs, while the new city is left full of the familiar sounds of the modern city. Fes was founded in 789 AD and Marrakesh in 1071 AD. Weather wise, Marrakech is warmer then Fes. On this journey you’ll drive through cedar forest inhabited by monkeys, and enter the Middle Atlas Mountains to see Berber villages, a 1930s ski resort, mountain springs and jagged rock formations. This semi-ruinous early-20th-century palace is a former residence of politician Thami El Glaoui (1879-1956) notorious for collaborating with the French and helping to overthrow Mohammed V. This negative association might be why the complex has been allowed to go into decline, but decades of wear and tear take little away from the palace’s beauty. Drawing attention at one end of the Najjariyyin Square in the Old Medina is the magnificent five-metre gateway to this 17th-century khan (inn), crowned with an intricate cedar canopy. Both the inner courtyard and the rooms have authentic, fantastic, and beautiful decor. 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. This 16th-century Moroccan fortress-turned-armory museum offers prime views of the historic quarter in Fes. A stirring panorama of Old Fez awaits you at the ruins of a royal necropolis from the Marinid Dynasty (13th to 15th centuries). The elegant minaret of the Bou Inania Madrasa can be seen through the horseshoe arch of Fes el-Bali’s great western gateway. The Funduq, commissioned by the Alaouite Sultan Ismail Ibn Sharif, is preserved as a museum for woodwork. He was buried here and hundreds of Muslims pilgrimage to the mausoleum each year. There are plenty of hotels that are located just outside and that offer easy access to the heart of the city. Be sure to check out the world-famous tanneries of Fes! The gate on the north facade is from the beginning of the 13th century and has two arches, one adorned with moulded plasterwork and the other cedar, and both rich with zellige decoration. This shrine at Place de Marche Verte is considered one of the holiest sites in Morocco, holding the mausoleum of Idris II (791-828). The most popular things to do in Fes with kids according to Tripadvisor travelers are: Morocco Countryside Tours; Tenere Tours; Marrakech Camel Trips; Fes Desert Trips; Desert Merzouga Tours; See all kid friendly things to do in Fes on Tripadvisor $ The work was sponsored by Maryam bint Mohammed bin Abdullah, the sister of Fatima al-Fihri, famed for establishing the University of al-Qarawiyyin – and the two mosques have historically been rivals. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Fes, Morocco on Tripadvisor: See 56,764 traveller reviews and photos of Fes tourist attractions. Carpet sellers are all over the main streets of the medina, each with stunning Moroccan designs to show. It is one of the most important religious buildings in Fes and as such, only Muslims are allowed inside. One of these, Bab Makina, has become the backdrop for the Festival of World Sacred Music every June and now well into its third decade. Inside, what will catch your eye is the large Torah Ark with carved wooden panels and framed by delicate painted honeycomb plasterwork. Traditionally these would contain turmeric (yellow), indigo (blue), mint (green), henna (orange) and crushed poppy (red), although chemical dyes tend to be used today. Car traffic is not permitted beyond this point, and dawn to dusk the artery behind it is a parade of pedestrians, mules, donkeys and mopeds. Take in the architecture, visit the Aben-Danan Synagogue, and shop the antique boutiques. The past is alive here, so take one or two days to enjoy all the best things to do in Fes! More than half of the complex is taken up by an Andalusian-style garden, still used for cultural and religious events in summer. Grab a cheap, fresh juice every morning for the perfect start to a day of exploring. The Fez Medina Guided Tour is up to six hours long and can be given in English, French, Spanish or Italian. His descendants continue to live at the palace, welcoming visitors for tours, but also renting out rooms to guests. Fes is located in the northern part of Morocco and Marrakech is in the southern part. This part of the process is mesmerising, and the vats look like a giant painter’s palette from the terraces above. 10 Best Things to do in Fez | Morocco. Near the Andalusian Mosque is a Madrasa ordered in 1321 by the Marinid Sultan Abu al-Hassan. 2 Marinid Tombs. So if you want to make sure you leave no stone unturned in the largest walled city in the world you could call on the services of a professional guide. Receive travel discounts, tips and behind the scenes stories. See All 11 Places. Within there’s radiant zellige decoration, painted woodcarving, stained glass and stucco work. Follow our travels daily on Instagram together with 250K others. One of the most striking defensive features on the Medina’s walls is this 16th-century Saaid dynasty fortress towering over the city from the north and visible for miles. This palace was commissioned by Mohammed El Mokri (d. 1957), finance minister for a succession of Sultans during the French Protectorate. Sit here at the end of a day of sightseeing and enjoy the sun setting behind this wonderful city. This means it’s a terrace paradise! Don’t forget to look up at the beautiful minaret above! As well as showing you to all the hallmarks, like the tanneries, the Nejjarine Museum (skip the line), the madrasas, the Andalusian and the kaleidoscope of market stalls, your guide will share anecdotes, historical facts and haggling tips. At this historic trading post, the call of the Sahara may be impossible to ignore. It’s easy to see why when you see how well the ancient charms of the medina have been preserved. This handmade copperware hangs, glinting in the shopfronts, where you can haggle for buckets, pots, pans, tagines, trays, incense burners, couscous steamers, sieves, kettles, sugar boxes and a lot more besides. 14 amazing things to do in Fes, Morocco . But there are many more. We have reviews of the best places to see in Fes. Fes is well connected from all directions. Locals will try to offer you “mint for free” to help with the smell but we’ve seen a lot of people paying afterward. The shrine, sitting below the tallest minaret in Old Fez, was built between 1717 and 1824, and is mainly for Fez residents, although visiting practising Muslims can also enter the mausoleum. Fes is known for its handicrafts, and most notably its rugs. 70.000 people are living in this car-free urban area and somehow it seems that time stopped there at one point. Wait for the call to prayer and you’ll hear the voices of muezzins from all corners of the city, all at the same time. Location: Mellah, Fes, Morocco. In terms of things to see in Morocco, you can’t miss Fes! See All 11 Things to Do in Fez. The local shopping is excellent and it is easy to lose yourself for hours in all of the small shops. Other classes take more time. Bliss! Historically and age-wise, Fes is older than Marrakesh. This is because some gates of the medina will close after 7 pm, which can cause problems when returning to a hotel outside the medina walls. Mystical, magical Fes: a remarkable city located in Morocco, a UNESCO world heritage site, and home to the oldest and largest medina in North Africa! Later, you’ll descend to the desert and will ride a camel into the sands to spend the night in a Berber camp. No worries! Cafe Clock is also a great place to grab a bite to eat, with beautiful terrace views. The square minaret dates from the 10th century, and was designed to resemble the minaret at the Mosque of al-Qarawiyyin. Borj Nord’s sister fort is perched on a hilltop across the valley, with a wonderful panorama of Fez from the south. Liz Hoggard. The ablution fountain in the courtyard continues to flow after more than 750 years, and standing here it’s hard not to be dumbfounded by the geometrical tilework topped with bands of Arabic calligraphy, the feather-light stuccowork, and the carved cedar screens. No map can make sense of this place, and you’re sure to get lost, but that’s part of the fun. Now meticulously tended, the park has a large pond and water gardens where geometric fountains are festooned with zellige tiles, all bordered by geometric beds of roses, cactuses and low boxwood hedges. In the same vein as other Marinid religious schools in Fez, the Al-Attarine Madrasa has sophisticated decoration on its rectangular courtyard. Looking for unique things to do in Fez? Find what to do today, this weekend, or in September. Visit early or late in the day to see this beautiful space at its quietest. Source: Patricia Hofmeester / shutterstock. Stay in an authentic riad inside the medina . Or see all riads in Fes. Opening times: 8 am-6 pm (always check for religious holidays and events, as this can alter times)Entrance fee: 20 Dhs ($2 USD). When people talk about the Medina, they normally mean both Old Fez (Fes el-Bali) and the newer Fes el-Jdid, founded in the 13th century during the Marinid Dynasty. Stay in a Former Palace. There is a wonderful courtyard in the center, surrounded by geometric patterned tiles that decorate the walls and floor. The Kairaouine Mosque is known to be the world’s oldest university and it is also the second-largest mosque in Morocco. For more information on what to see in Morocco, check out this article on the best things to do in Morocco! This is a restful place to take a breath from the narrow covered streets and … From Marrakech, the train takes you to the beautiful coastline of Rabat. The streets in the Fes souks are much narrower than the ones in Marrakech, with many twists, turns, and forks that make it a true maze. You can easily arrive from Marrakech, Rabat, or the blue city of Chefchaouen. Because of this, it’s best to remember to take a bit of mint or a scarf with you. Over the portal are gossamer geometric and floral patterns, and incredibly detailed tilework. 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