Heritage & architectureEditorial pick · go independently
The Merinid madrasas of Fes: Bou Inania and Al-Attarine
Two former theological colleges where carved cedar, stucco and zellige reach a level of craft few buildings anywhere can match.
- Best timeMid-morning, when sunlight falls into the courtyards.
- How it worksGo independently: nothing to book through MoroccanPlans.
Why go
Much of what makes Fes extraordinary dates from the Merinid period, when, as UNESCO notes, the city’s madrasas, fondouks, palaces and fountains were built. The madrasas were colleges where students lived and studied around a central courtyard.
The Bou Inania Madrasa, near Bab Bou Jeloud, was founded in the mid-14th century and is one of the few religious buildings in the city that visitors can enter. Opposite, look up at the facade of Dar al-Magana, the house of a 14th-century water clock that no longer runs. Deeper in the medina, the smaller Al-Attarine Madrasa, by the spice market, is a masterpiece of proportion and detail.
Seeing both gives you a feel for how a single architectural language — wood, plaster and tile — can produce such different spaces.
What to expect
Courtyards open to the sky, with fine detail best seen close up. Access may be limited around prayer times, and some areas (such as upper floors) can be closed to visitors. Entry is paid at each madrasa.
Our advice
- Check opening times locally: they vary with prayer times and on Fridays.
- Dress modestly, as in any religious building.
- Bring a small zoom or use your phone’s zoom: the finest carving is high up.
Advice from our editors, not official rules: check opening times and conditions locally.
Where it is
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Sources
The facts on this page were checked on 25 October 2026 against reputable sources, but not all against an official one: confirm practical details before you go.
- Medina of Fez — UNESCO World Heritage Centre · checked 25 Oct 2026
- Dar al-Magana (the water clock opposite the Bou Inania Madrasa) — Wikipedia · checked 25 Oct 2026
Descriptions are our own words. Opening hours, prices and access can change: the official website is the reference.
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