About
Fez
A few days visiting in Morocco's Imperial city of Fez el Bali, the "city of thousands of alleys", is a chance to experience one of Morocco's gems. Its exciting history, outstanding architecture gives a fascinating opportunity to gain an insight into a lifestyle barely changed since medieval times.
The City
Fez enjoys a wonderful position close to Meknes between the Rif and the Middle Atlas mountain ranges and is linked by an excellent railway network with Casablanca and Marrakech to the south, and Tangier to the north.
The most authentic of Morocco’s Imperial Cities, the medina of Fez el Bali is recognised as one of the finest in the world by UNESCO, and has been designated a World Heritage Site. It is reported to have 9,000 alleyways, many barely wide enough for a donkey or mule, the only form of transport in most of the medina, which create interest and excitement at every turn.
The city was the capital of Morocco for more than 400 years, and is now the country’s spiritual, religious and culinary centre. It houses the finest collection of architectural delights in Morocco, including a superb range of accommodation offered in very elegant riads (courtyard houses), mainly in the accessible Batha and Ziat districts. All riads have a private sun terrace, many offering superb views of the surrounding mountains, and some have pools, though most are small. The need to walk along uneven, sloping alleys to access many parts of the medina should be noted.
Fez has a pleasant climate, with considerable variation over the year. Ground floor or air conditioned rooms are advised in July and August, and from November until January be sure to take warm clothes for the evenings. Although rooms are heated, many of them are so lofty that it is hard to heat the room fully. April to November are the driest months.
Location
Fez is located between the Rif mountains to the north and the Middle Atlas mountains to the south in the centre of the north of Morocco.
It has an international airport and is linked to other places of interest by the excellent train service and the good road network:
- Meknes, a quieter Imperial city under 1 hour to the west;
- Volubilis, the site of the largest and best preserved Roman ruins in Morocco, and nearby Moulay Idriss, one of the country's most important spiritual sites around 90 minutes’ drive north of Meknes; and
- Rabat, the Imperial city located on the Atlantic coast on the around 4 hours to the west on the train line heading eventually down to Marrakech.
In the City
- There are too many wonderful sights to list here, but they include: the Medersa Attarine, the mighty Karaouine Mosque, the Merenid Tombs, the Tanners quarter- home of the famous colourful traditional tannery, the Nejjarine Fountain, the Batha Museum, the Borj-Nord museum of weaponry, the magnificent palaces of Fez el-Bali, the nearby Fes Djedid, the Mellah, Koranic school Bou Inania and the beautiful souks.
- Fez also hosts each year the Festival of World Sacred Music in June.
Nearby, all within 90 minutes by road or train
- Meknes, a quieter Imperial city under 1 hour to the west of Fez by car or train, famous for the decorative gate of Bab El Mansour, the Mausoleum of Moualy Ismail, ruler of Morocco in the 17th century, and Dar Jamai Museum of Moroccan art and its gardens.
- Volubilis, 90 minutes? drive from Fez (a short drive north of Meknes), the site of the largest and best preserved Roman ruins in Morocco, which is a a World Heritage Site and particularly noted for its superb mosaic floors.
- Moulay Idriss, one of the country's most important spiritual sites in the foothills of the Rif Mountains within sight of Volubilis, is a small town on a picturesque hill.
- Spas and natural hot springs of Moulay Yacoub, reputed to cure skin complaints and rheumatism, with detoxing and de-stressing thalassotherapy spa treatments, just 20 minutes from Fez el-Bali. Sidi Harazem mineral water springs are 15 minutes away.
- The Middle Atlas Mountains to the south of Fez offer walking or horse riding, interesting towns such as Sefrou where in June the cherry harvest is celebrated (30 minutes from Fez) and Ifrane, an Alpine style resort and gateway to cedar forests (1 1/2 hours? drive from Fez).
Itinerary Inspiration featuring Fez
10 Marrakech, Desert & Fez
11 The Imperial Cities of the North
12 Tour of the North
13 Grand Tour of Morocco
17 Ancient Cities, Desert & Mountains
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