Riad On Time

Fès is the historical heart of Morocco where were born and where thrived its most prestigious dynasties.This city which did not loose of its historical splendour during several centuries conceals particularly interesting landscapes in the old médina with its thousands of lanes and its majestic Riads. Discover the softness of living and the refinement of the most luxurious palaces and Riads of the médina of Fès. Fitted with a considerable cultural heritage and a sumptuous architecture, thanks to the safeguarding of its many monuments, Fès is without any doubt the spiritual capital of Morocco.

Monuments

Founded in the VIIIe century, the médina (old city) is called Fès el Bali. This district is rich of splendid architectural heritage which didn’t cease progressing over the centuries. One can find traditional Moroccan souks, mosques, médersas, tombs and palaces which characterize all typical Moroccan old cities.



It is one of the most important mosques and the oldest university in the World. Its construction began in 857, under the reign of the Idrisside Dynasty. It is a woman, heiress of a rich kairouanais businessman, Oum Al Banine fatima Al Fihriya, which is at the origin of its foundation. Throughout the centuries, the mosque sees its architecture evolving. It became, from the Xe century to the XIIe century, an important center of teaching and one of the first universities in the world. The mosque counts 270 columns forming 16 naves of 21 arcs each. Each nave contains 4 lines of 210 praying people, that is to say 840 what gives 16 naves 13.440. Let us add 160, number of praying people which can place itself at the need, in front of the columns; 2700 others can find place in the court and 6000 in the gallery. As a conclusion, not less than 22.700 praying people can hear the prayer at the same time. The university offers many classes of religious teaching.



Located at the west of Dar el-Batha, this enclosure door opens on Fès el-Bali. Built in the XIIe century, then restored in 1913, it is out of blue enamel (colors of Fès) in the outside and green (colors of Islam) on the interior face .



This mosque was set up in 859-860 during the reign of the Idrisside Dynasty by a woman called Mariyam el Fihriya, sister of Fatima el Fihriya, founder of the El-Qaraouiyyîn Mosque, another large historical mosque of Fès. The building was used at the origin as a simple oratory before becoming gradually a mosque with its whole share. The almohades drew its current limits. The dynasty of Mérinides equipped it with a fountain in the interior court and a library as well. It was renovated under Alaouites by Moulay Ismaïl. The place, always in religious activity, is today one of the multiple tourist resorts of Fès and is often quoted when it is question of Morocco history.



To protect the growing Jewish population, the Sultan Moulay Yacoub put the Jews in the new city; he built Fes Eljdid, at the shade of his palace. Fès became again an important center of Jewish studies and a seedbed of rabbis. This situation worsens slowly and in 1391 at the time of Jewish persecution in Spain, where the majority of refugees will prefer Algeria to Morocco. The first district unqiue to the Jews is founded in Fès at that time in an area known for salt trade : Mellah.



The Médersa Bouanania was the most important médersa in Fès and was built in 1350 to 1355 J-C by the sultan mérinide Abou Inan. Above its students teaching and lodging role, it used to fulfill the function of mosque of Fridays. It also has a minaret of beautiful proportion and a hydraulic clock (magana) whose system of operation is still unknown to us. This islamic university is a treasure of Mérinide art. Its architecture is superb and covered walls of carved mosaics and plaster are not to be missed.

The Museums

Festival Palace of royal audiences raised by Moulay Hassan the 1st and completed in 1897 by Moulay Abdelaziz. This building, rehabilitated in 1915 into a museum of art and traditions, offers Fez native art and belongs to the diverse residences of Riyadh type (house with garden) that knew a great development in Fés at the end of the XIXème century and the beginning of the XXème century.



Museum of arts and wood works, old fondouk of two floors, was magnificiently restored in order to shelter a wood museum offering to see all the aspects of the wood industry. At the top of its terrace, a beautiful sight on Fès and the surrounding hills.



The weapon museum is located in a great fortress of the XVIe century. It was built in 1582, by the Sultan Ahmed El Mansour, to supervise and protect the town of Fès against foreign threats. In 1963, the fortress became the weapons museum with a collection of " Dar snah". Exposed in the palace of Batha during many years, this collection comes mainly from the Makina, an arsenal left by the sultan Moulay Hassan 1 at the end of the XIXe century.

The Gardens

Created in the 18th century by Sultan Moulay Abdallah, Jnane Sbil garden extends on a surface of 7,5 hectares in the middle of a monumental site. An exceptional vegetation and an original structure makes it a jewel of the arabo-Andalusian tradition. Full of history and memories, this space constitutes the oldest and the most prestigious public garden of the spiritual capital of the Kingdom.