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Fes lies on one of the principal routes from the Mediterranean to the Sahara, and is one of Morocco's most historic cities, founded in 789AD. Even though it is not the political capital (that honor belongs to Rabat), it is very much the intellectual, mercantile, and spiritual capital of the nation. Its current population is over 600,000. Fes is composed of three distinct parts: Fes El Bali, the oldest part of the city; Fes El Jedid, with the royal palace; and the ville nouvelle, or modern city laid out largely by the French.
A view of the old city of Fes from across the Oued Fes. (NB: "oued" is Arabic for a small creek or stream). |
The newer part of Fes is very much a creation of the French during their colonial rule. This view is along the Avenue Hassan II. |
The entrance to the grounds of the royal palace in Fes El Jedid, taken from the Place des Alaouites. This gate dates from the 14C. |
Part of Fes El Jedid is a relatively quiet commercial district which lies between the ville nouvelle and the teeming souks of Fes El Bali. |
This is another side of the royal palace in Fes El Jedid. |
The Bab es Seba is the entrance to Fes El Bali, or old part of Fes, from Fes El Jedid. |
Fes El Bali is full of bustling souks like this one. |
A young man sells engraved Islamic tombstones in Fes El Bali. |
An old water fountain in Fes El Bali. |
Looking into the courtyard of the Qarawiyin Mosque. |
The Bou Inania Medersa, built in the 14C. A medersa is a type of Islamic school, and parts are still closed to non-Muslims. |
Detail of a column in the Bou Inania Medersa. |
A view along one of the principal thoroughfares through Fes El Bali. |
Another set of city walls encloses Fes El Bali, mainly dating from the 14-16C. |
The North Borj is a fortress built by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansour in 1582. Today it contains an arms museum. |
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The holy city of Moulay Idriss and the ruins of the Roman Volubilis are within easy reach of Fes. The former is the site of the tomb of the great-grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, and is considered by some Moroccans to be a stand-in for a pilgrimage to Mecca. Because of its holy status, Moulay Idriss was closed to non-Muslims until 1912. Volubilis was settled as early as Neolithic times, but reached prominence as the capital of the Roman province of Mauritania from 45 to 285AD.
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| Two views (above)
of Moulay Idriss, named after an Islamic missionary who came to Morocco
in 787AD. He became a key political figure of the time, and was
instrumental in the development of Fes.
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A street scene in Moulay Idriss. |
View of the Decumanus Maximus at Volubilis. |
Detail of some of the mosaics (above, right) at Volubilis. Many of the finest mosaic artists during the Roman period came from northern Africa. |
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A general view of the ruins at Volubilis. The Romans had largely withdrawn from the city by the late 3C, and it was largely abandoned by the 11C. |
The front of the Basilica, built in the 3C. Volubilis was an important center fro Christianity in the late Roman empire. |
The Capitol at Volubilis, which incorporates a temple to Juno, Minerva, and Jupiter. |
Map courtesy of Lonely Planet. |
