Fez, Morrocco

Fez
Registered Sector: 
Medina of Fez
Location and site: 
In the north of Morocco, near Andalusian Spain, the medina of Fez was established in the region of the limestone plateaus of the Moyen Atlas chain, on the two shores of the wadi Fez.
Historical Function: 
Religion and university.
Administrative Status: 
Chief city of the province of Fez and the urban prefecture.
Historical Reference: 
  • Founded in 808 A.D. by the new Idriss Dynasty proclaimed by Ali, the royal capital of Fez is composed of two centres, located on either side of the river and occupied by Andalusian Shi'ite immigrants and by immigrants from Kairouan respectively.
  • While conflicts between the Fatimid Shi'ites and the Umayyads were pursued elsewhere in Morocco, the city of Fez underwent development.
  • After being captured repeatedly during the 11th century by the Almoravids Sunnites, the two quarters were united within the same fortification wall. Fez was then captured by the Shi'ite Almohades.
  • In the 13th century, when the Marinides came to power, Fez began to experience a period of progress. A new city and a Jewish quarter were added to the royal capital, which was enjoying expansion and enlightenment. Fez reached its heyday in the 14th century.
  • After its fall in the 15th century, Fez regained its function as capital under the rule of the Alaouites (descendants of Ali who still reigned over Morocco) in the 19th century. From the time of its prestigious past to the present, Fez has retained its function as an Islamic cultural centre.
Urban Morphology: 
A rampart with a series of gates surrounds the two centres of medieval Fez. The principal axes link the centre to the gates and a street surrounds the heart of the old city. The Kairouan quarter, which is longer, is crossed by an artery. Narrow, tortuous pedestrian streets, covered passages, stairs and numerous dead-ends make up the dense layout with few urban squares.

In the middle of the landscape of flat roofs and minarets is a dense concentration of civic, religious and military monuments that reflect both the heyday of the Moorish city and, especially, the intellectual enlightenment of the Islamic city. The madrassas, the mosque (since transformed into a university) and the palace are very close to the heart of the city.

Registration Criteria: 
The twin cities have not lost their individual characters. "Fez is at once an astonishing city-museum and one of the largest Islamic metropoli where the various demographic strata have determined the greatest variety of architectural forms and urban landscapes." No reference to any of the six criteria is given.