Fez fountain © Judith Duk
Why? When you travel to Fez, you not only travel to a
busy Moroccan city but also travel back in time for about 1,000
years. The modern world has barely intruded into the labyrinthine
warren that makes up the medieval medina (Old City) of this ancient
city, where donkeys carry merchandise to and from the souks through
the crammed alleyways overshadowed by minarets, and the stench of
the tanneries permeates the air. A holiday in Fez is an exotic,
fascinating experience for first world visitors.
When? Summers in Morocco are extremely hot, and winters very
cold, therefore it is best to travel to Fez in spring or autumn,
when the weather is warm and dry.
Who for? Anyone in love with the romantic notion of Aladdin,
Ali Baba and the Arabian Nights will be drawn to holiday in Fez but
the reality of the sights, sounds and smells of the ancient Medina
may come as a shock. Travellers willing to plunge into this sensory
overload will be rewarded with an unforgettable experience when
they travel to Fez. Bargain-hunters who love seeking out local
handcrafts and exotic goods will relish the souks (bazaars).
More Info? Whether you travel to Fez as an individual or as
part of a package tour it is wise to learn as much as possible
about this fascinating destination from our comprehensive Fez
travel guide which contains everything from entry requirements, and
health and safety information to details of historic
attractions.
Overview
Fez is the cultural and spiritual centre of Morocco. It was
founded in 790 BC by Moulay Idriss II and is the oldest of the
three imperial cities. The main attraction in this ancient city is
the medieval Medina, the old part of the city, which has been
continuously inhabited since the 10th century and still bustles
with a bewildering throng of colourfully costumed tribal people,
from olive-dealers and veiled women on their way to the baths, to
industrious merchants and traditional bell-ringing water-sellers.
The Medina of Fez is the most complete medieval city still in
existence, it's preservation having been instigated under French
occupation, and it forms a working model of the way life was lived
when the world was still young. The more modern part of the city is
known as Ville Nouvelle, and has a decidedly French influence.
A guided tour is the easiest way to tackle the buzzing hive that
is traditional Fez, but the brave can take on the teeming
alleyways, too narrow for motor vehicles, risking getting lost and
having to haggle with a local to be guided back out. Laden donkeys
negotiate the steep cobbled lanes, and the buzz of buying and
selling is often interrupted by the urgent cries of mule drivers or
deliverymen pushing heavy and ungainly carts that warn shoppers to
flatten themselves against the walls or be flattened themselves. A
visit to the souks will undoubtedly lead to a stopover at Fez's
famous tanneries where one of the oldest arts in Morocco, and the
world, is practiced to produce the soft leather that has been
sought after for centuries.
The best vantage point over the ancient walled city, which lies
at the eastern end of the plain of Saiss, bordered by the foothills
of the Atlas Mountains, is from the ruined Merenid tombs on a
hilltop. From here it is possible to view the skyline with its
profusion of satellite dishes, and to pick out some of the
magnificent palaces, green-roofed holy places and the Karaouine
Mosque, all hemmed in by workshops and tenements, souks and
squares, and a mass of humanity and the ubiquitous donkeys. Fez is
secretive and shadowy, but captivating and colourful at the same
time.
