Fez, Morocco

Fez is a big city in Morocco.

It sits near some hills. A river flows through the old part of town.

Long ago, the city was two small towns. A leader joined them into one big city. This made the city grow very fast.

Fez has many old buildings. Some are very pretty. You can see them today.

There is a very old school here. It is still open today. It is the oldest school in the world.

Many people live in Fez. It is a busy and special place.

Fez is a large city in northern Morocco.

It sits near the Atlas Mountains. The city is surrounded by hills. A river called the Fez River flows through it.

Long ago, Fez began as two separate towns. A leader named Yusuf ibn Tashfin joined them together. This happened in the 11th century. The city grew into a famous center for trade. It also became a place for learning. Many beautiful buildings were made during this time. These buildings show the Moroccan style of art.

One part of the city is very special. It is the Medina of Fez. This is a very old area where cars cannot go. It is a World Heritage Site. Inside, you can find the University of al-Qarawiyyin. This school was started in the year 857. It is the oldest school in the world that is still open. You can also visit the Chouara Tannery. This is a place where people work with leather.

Today, about 1.256 million people live in Fez. It is a busy and historic place.

Fez is a large, busy city in northern Morocco.

It sits in an inland area near the Atlas Mountains. The city is surrounded by many hills. A river called the Fez River flows through the middle of it.

This river flows from the west toward the east. The city is the capital of the Fez-Meknes region. About 1.256 million people live there today.

Long ago, Fez was actually two different towns. One was called Madinat Fas and the other was al-ʿĀliyá. They sat on different sides of the river. They even had their own leaders and walls. In the 11th century, a leader named Yusuf ibn Tashfin united them.

He destroyed the walls that kept them apart. Then, he built new walls to wrap around both towns. This created the single city we know today.

Many different groups of people helped build the city. In the 8th century, the Idrisid dynasty started the first settlements. Later, many Arab families moved there from places like Spain and Portugal. These people gave the city its Arab character. A Jewish community also grew in the city. They lived in a special area called the Mellah. The city reached its golden age during the Marinid era. During this time, many beautiful mosques and schools were built.

Fez is famous for its very old buildings. The city has many madrasas, which are schools for learning. These buildings show the beautiful Moorish and Moroccan styles of art.

One very special place is the University of al-Qarawiyyin. It was founded in the year 857. It is the oldest school in the world that is still running.

You can also visit the Chouara Tannery. This place has been making leather since the 11th century.

Today, the city has several different parts. There are the two old areas called the medinas. These include Fes el-Bali and Fes Jdid.

The Medina of Fez is a World Heritage Site. It is one of the largest places in the world where cars are not allowed.

People walk through its narrow streets to shop and travel. There is also a much larger modern area. This modern part was started during the French colonial era.

Fez is a major city located in northern, inland Morocco.

It serves as the capital of the Fez-Meknes administrative region. The city sits northwest of the Atlas Mountains. It is surrounded by hills and the Fez River, also known as the Oued Fes. This river flows from the west toward the east.

According to a 2024 census, the city has a population of 1.256 million people. Fez is one of the largest cities in the country. It is composed of two old medina quarters and a large modern urban area.

The history of Fez began in the 8th century under Idrisid rule. It actually started as two separate, competing settlements. The first was Madinat Fas, founded by Idris I in 789. He founded it on the southeast bank of the river. His son, Idris II, later built al-ʿĀliyá on the opposite bank in 809. For a long time, these two towns functioned independently. They even had different leaders and different names. The name "Fez" likely comes from the Arabic word "Faʾs," meaning a pickaxe. Some legends say a gold pickaxe was found during construction. Other stories suggest the name comes from "afas," meaning ruins.

Various groups of people helped shape the character of the city. In the early 9th century, Arab immigrants arrived from Ifriqiya and al-Andalus. These families came from places like Tunisia, Spain, and Portugal. Their arrival gave the city its distinct Arab character.

A significant Jewish community also lived in the city. They once lived in a northeastern district of al-ʿĀliyá. Later, during the Marinid period, a specific Jewish quarter called the Mellah was formed. This quarter sat on the south side of the Fes Jdid district.

The two separate settlements were finally united in the 11th century. The Almoravid Sultan Yusuf ibn Tashfin conquered the area in 1069 or 1070. He destroyed the walls that divided the two towns. He then built a new circuit of walls to encompass both areas. This act made him a second founder of the city. The Almohads later conquered Fez in 1145. They initially destroyed the fortifications due to local resistance. However, they eventually rebuilt the ramparts to protect the city. The walls completed in 1204 created the perimeter of Fes el-Bali used today.

The Marinid era, from the 13th to the 15th centuries, was the golden age for Fez. During this time, the city became the political capital again. It grew into a major center for trade and religious scholarship. Many important buildings were constructed during this period. These include various madrasas, which are Islamic schools.

These structures are famous for Moorish and Moroccan architectural styles. In 1276, Sultan Abu Yusuf Yaqub also founded the Fes Jdid district. This area served as the royal administrative center. It contains the Royal Palace, known as Dar al-Makhzen.

Extensive gardens were later added to this palace grounds.

Fez is home to several world-famous historical sites. The University of al-Qarawiyyin was founded in 857. It is the oldest continuously functioning institute of higher education in the world.

The city also contains the Chouara Tannery. This tannery dates back to the 11th century. It is one of the oldest leather-working sites in the world.

The Medina of Fez is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the largest urban pedestrian zones on Earth. This means it is a massive area where cars are not allowed.

Today, the city is a mix of ancient history and modern life. The old medinas, Fes el-Bali and Fes Jdid, remain central to its identity.

Beyond these old quarters lies the much larger modern urban area. This modern section was established during the French colonial era.

Fez continues to be an important center for culture and history. It connects the traditions of the past with the growing population of modern Morocco.