The city of Fes

Fes is described as the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco, which is no surprise when you see the wisdom and intelligence shown by the inhabitants of the medina. In 2015, the city of Fes had 1,500,000 inhabitants, of which 350,000 lived in the old town of Fes. Fes el Bali, meaning the old town, offers all its visitors a wealth of know-how through Moroccan craftsmanship. Fez is divided into 3 towns, Fes el Bali, Fes el Jdid and the New Town.

Fes El Bali, the listed medina of Fes

What a joy it is to venture into a thousand-year-old city that has managed to preserve all its Moroccan and, more specifically, Fassi way of life. Fes el Bali, Old Fes, meaning the old town, the medina of course, is the essential stop for your visit! It embodies the richness and hospitality of an entire people, it is a jewel through its architecture, its craft know-how and the spirit that reigns within this medina listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Several riads converted into guesthouses offer accommodation under a formula called Bed and Breakfast.

Fes El Bali then Fes El Jdid.

All good tourist guides such as Tripadvisor, Le Petit Futé or even the Moroccan tourism office will introduce you to the 3 towns that make up Fes. When we talk about Fes El Jdid, we are talking about the Jewish quarter, an extension of the Fes medina built after the districts of Quaraouine and the Andalusians. Fes El Jdid is also called the Jewish quarter or Mellah. It is a very beautiful district of Fes that is worth the detour for its different architecture, featuring balconies, cedar wood and distinctive alleyways. When you are in the Boujloud district, at the Blue Gate, Riad Jamaï invites you to walk towards the Royal Palace to reach this Jewish quarter, the Mellah, Fes El Jdid. The Jews settled in Fes under the protection of the Merinids, and today remnants of Merinid tombs can be found on the heights of the medina, with several restoration works underway to protect this exceptional heritage.

Old Fes, young Fes and new Fes

The new town of Fes is a collection of recent buildings resembling Western constructions, with large avenues and car traffic. You won’t find any riads in this part of town, it is essentially made up of hotels, apartments and commercial complexes. This part of the city of Fes can be explored but does not offer the sense of escape that the medina of Fes can provide. Riad Jamaï can offer you one thing: strolling along the grand Avenue Hassan II, a meeting and exchange place for all the inhabitants of Fes.