Patrimoine et architectureSélection de la rédaction · à visiter librement
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.
- Meilleur momentMid-morning, when sunlight falls into the courtyards.
- Comment ça marcheSur place, librement : rien à réserver via MoroccanPlans.
Pourquoi y aller
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.
À quoi s’attendre
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.
Nos conseils
- 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.
Conseils de notre rédaction, pas des règles officielles : vérifiez horaires et conditions sur place.
Où c’est
Chargement…
Sources
Les faits de cette page ont été vérifiés le 25 octobre 2026 auprès de sources fiables, mais pas tous auprès d’une source officielle : confirmez les détails pratiques avant d’y aller.
- Medina of Fez — UNESCO World Heritage Centre · consulté le 25 oct. 2026
- Dar al-Magana (the water clock opposite the Bou Inania Madrasa) — Wikipedia · consulté le 25 oct. 2026
Les descriptions sont rédigées par nos soins. Horaires, tarifs et accès peuvent changer : le site officiel fait foi.
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