Visit the medina
9 500 ruelles, un musée à ciel ouvert classé au patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco.
The old city of Fez is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a distinction that strongly reflects the richness this medina offers. The old town is the oldest in Morocco and surely the most incredible in the Arab world. As tourist guides often say, the medina of Fez is an open-air museum. Craftsmen, also called Maalems in Morocco, have maintained a unique know-how for thousands of years around leather, metal, fabric… this richness is what makes Fez’s reputation.
The medina of Fez, 9,500 alleys.
Also called Fez El Bali, the medina has preserved its historic ramparts, the old town is surrounded by walls with 12 gates (link to the content about Fez gates), each with its own name. You can walk around the medina along a road that passes by all the gates and offers breathtaking views of the medina of Fez. Within this medina, several riads have opened where traditional houses have been renovated into rooms, and you might spot a few furnished terraces. The medina contains about 9,500 alleys, imagine how difficult it is to (re)find your way and create visual landmarks.
A medina of Fez listed by UNESCO
It is a set of houses, all interlinked with one another and built gradually around the Quaraouine and Andalusian districts on each side of the Fez river. They were originally responsible for the founding of Fez and, together with all the districts, form an exceptional labyrinth. The Riad Jamai team advises taking the time to explore, step by step, the medina; it is discreet and shy by nature, and you will need to dare to push open a few doors to discover the treasures of this city. You will notice the atmosphere that reigns in this medina, where good manners are not an empty phrase. Fez is a religious city, a cultural and spiritual capital, please respect this way of life.
The Riad Jamaï experience for your stay in Fez
Some tabs on our website will provide you with more precise answers regarding your expectations for visits or places in Fez. The Riad Jamaï team has written a few notes on the must-sees of Fez, such as the gates, the craftsmen, the shopping streets and even a few addresses to discover the hidden riches behind heavy cedar wood doors.