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- Destinations
- Africa
- Morocco
- Fez
Fez
Fez is the cultural and spiritual centre of Morocco. It was
founded in 790 AD by Moulay Idriss II and is the oldest of the
three Imperial Cities. The main attraction in this ancient city is
the medieval Medina, the old part of the city, which has been
continuously inhabited since the 10th century and still bustles
with a bewildering throng of colourfully-costumed locals; from
olive-dealers and veiled women on their way to the baths, to
industrious merchants and traditional bell-ringing water-sellers.
The Medina of Fez is the most complete medieval city still in
existence, it's preservation having been instigated under French
occupation, and it forms a working model of the way life was lived
when the world was still young. The more modern part of the city is
known as Ville Nouvelle, and has a decidedly French influence.
A guided tour is the easiest way to tackle the buzzing hive that
is traditional Fez - but the brave can take on the teeming
alleyways, too narrow for motor vehicles, and risk getting lost and
having to haggle with a local to be guided back out. Laden donkeys
negotiate the steep cobbled lanes, and the buzz of buying and
selling is often interrupted by the urgent cries of mule drivers or
deliverymen pushing heavy and ungainly carts warning shoppers to
flatten themselves against the walls or be flattened themselves. A
visit to the souks will undoubtedly lead to a stopover at Fez's
famous tanneries, where one of the oldest arts in Morocco (and the
world) is practiced, and where tourists can buy premium soft
leather products to take home as Moroccan souvenirs.
The best vantage point over the ancient walled city, which lies
at the eastern end of the plain of Saiss, bordered by the foothills
of the Atlas Mountains, is from the ruined Merenid tombs on a
nearby hilltop. From here it is possible to view the skyline with
its profusion of satellite dishes, and to pick out some of the
magnificent palaces, green-roofed holy places and the Karaouine
Mosque, all hemmed in by workshops and tenements, souks and
squares, a mass of humanity and the ubiquitous donkeys. Fez might
be a secretive and shadowy place, but it is captivating and
colourful at the same time, and wonderful destination for those
looking to have a real cultural experience during their holiday in
Morocco.
Information & Facts
Climate
Fez has a continental climate with extreme temperatures. In
summer the mercury can reach a sizzling 120°F (45°C) while winters
can be freezing, so the best time to visit Fez is during spring
(April to June) and autumn (September to November), when the
weather is warm and dry.
Getting Around
Fez has a basic public transport system, with trains, buses and
taxis. It is easy to get lost in the maze of narrow streets that
make up Fez's Medina, the world's largest car-free urban zone. The
medina does have colour-coded tourist routes, so it is best to use
the accompanying tourist map and ask for directions if lost. In
Fez, the
petits taxisare small and red and operate between the Medina
walls and within the city limits. They tend to be metered and are
not too expensive, only carrying three passengers.
Grands taxisare bigger and travel fixed routes from the
cities to the outlying areas. Both types of taxis are usually
shared and drivers often wait until the taxi is full before
departing. The train station is situated in the Ville Nouvelle (new
city) and operates a route to Tangier and other destinations.
Language
Arabic is the official language, but eight other
languages are also spoken including Berber, French and Spanish.
English is generally understood in the tourist areas, but French is
the most widely spoken.
Money
The unit of currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD), which is
divided into 100 centimes. ATMs are available in the larger towns,
but can be unreliable; currency can be exchanged at banks or
official bureaux de changes, which are also widespread in major
towns. Dirhams cannot be obtained or exchanged outside Morocco and
receipts must be retained as proof of legal currency exchange, as
well as in order to re-exchange money when departing. Major credit
cards are accepted in the larger shops, hotels and restaurants.
Travellers cheques can be used in tourist areas, but are not
prevalent; they are best taken in Euros or Pounds Stirling.