Nicole's Travel Tales

October 9, 2023

Meet me in Mystical Fes

The Fes Medina is the world’s oldest and largest pedestrian free zone. Founded in 789AD, the UNESCO listed site has more than 9000 lanes and alleys have been a bustling hive of industry, markets, homes and mystique, almost unchanged for centuries.

In the laneways, too narrow for cars or even carts, you’ll see donkeys carrying goods, food stalls handed down through generations selling fresh food and produce, jewellery, leather goods and renowned for exquisite hand sewn embroidered napery made of the finest cottons, bric-a-brac and ceramics, including the ancient Zellige tiles, still crafted today – crafts that have continued for centuries.

Wandering the Fes Medina feels like walking back in time. You can feel its history and ancient soul within the walls. It’s raw and sometimes gritty but also alive, however, without a guide, it’s easy to become lost and/or wonder what there is to see other than narrow lanes with endless doors.

This is the undeniable mystique of Fes.

It’s about knowing which doors to open and discovering the breathtaking secrets beyond the threshold.

Fes is renowned for its quality leather goods and the Chouara Tannery has been operating inside the Medina since the 11th century.

Yep it’s smelly, however it’s a fascinating place to visit and the bunch of mint leaves to scrunch up under your nose will help with the smells!

With each visit to Fes, I stay in accommodation which leave me breathless and curiously speechless with it’s beauty.

However, this reaction isn’t unusual, as it’s standard accommodation in Fes and also other cities across Morocco. Once former palaces and grand homes they’re now used to house visitors.

Their authenticity is what sets them apart from the standard 5 star hotel where you could be anywhere in the world.

When staying in a Moroccan Riad you know you’re staying somewhere unique and beautiful with welcoming hosts like nowhere else.

It’s difficult to truly surmise the sumptuous grandeur and intricate fine details in words so I’ll let the images do the talking…

Outside the Medina you’ll find the stunning Royal Palace Gates, the Jewish Quarter with balconies overlooking the busy streets and the Storks nesting on the rooftops along with places where you can capture wide panoramas of the Medina.

If you’d like to discover the mystique of Fes, contact me and I can create an itinerary for you.

Nicole x