Things to see and do Middle Atlas

This cemetery with its bright white tombs is a moving visit. It contains, among others, the mausoleums of great rabbis and a saint, as well as the graves of 600 victims of the 1932 plague. The cemetery has a peaceful atmosphere that is rarely disturbed by visitors. At the back of the cemetery, you will find a museum created by Edmond Gabay, an enthusiast who has collected many souvenirs from Jewish families in Fez. Do not hesitate to come and meet him, he has his workshop just a few steps away. A small contribution is welcome.

Borj Nord faces its twin of the Southern part of town. Built in 1582 by Saadien Ahmed el-Mansour, the building was modified in the alaouite dynasty; the four corners have been equipped with salient corners in the spearhead shape, allowing a more efficient defence. Perfectly preserved, Borj houses a very interesting museum where you can discover a collection of weapons of time. It was transferred from the Batha museum in 1963, and most of the weapons have come from Makina, a manufacturing plant of weapons founded in Fès in the 19th century by the sultan Moulay Rachid. Thus the museum offers a chronological of the different types of armaments throughout its history, the age of the stone in the 20th century.

This door, at the northern end of the medina, gives an entrance door of the medieval castle, with its crenellated towers. It offers a breathtaking view of the valley below.

This sacred place shelters the tomb of Moulay Idriss II, under whose reign Fez became an imperial city, the first in Morocco. It is covered with a golden silk fabric, offered by the corporation of silk weavers, as well as the smaller one of his mother. It is a place of pilgrimage, where people come to invoke baraka, luck. The faithful will be able to touch the tomb of the holy man, a descendant of the Prophet's family, through a pierced copper plate.

Dominating the medina, this ancient fortress of the th century dates from the sultan saadien Ahmed el-Mansour. In the south of the city, shortly before the Bab Ftouh cemetery, it had a defensive role, since Fes, located between the chain of Rif and the Middle Atlas, was prey to Berber tribes scattered from the mountains. Surrounded by olive trees, Borj offers a breathtaking view of the old medina. From far away, the minarets of the mosques, many hundreds of them throughout the city, are extirpent from the unity of the colors of the medina, the whole of which surrounded by walls.

Draws its name from the two twisted columns to the Corinthian top. Inside is a large peristyle peristyle (rainwater recovery basin).

Around a large stone rectangle still remains two unfortunately damaged mosaics. Basically and better preserved, a seated néréide on a sea horse and surrounded by centaurs.

This interesting museum is dedicated to traditional arts and crafts. You will see many traditional costumes, as well as art and craftwork the most varied from the four corners of the region, carpets with pottery, without forgetting the tools that were used for their production.

Two very well preserved mosaics: The first presents an acrobat (desultor) on horseback, and the second evokes a fishing scene.

This source is famous for the purity of its water. It rises from the rock at the foot of a cliff and flows in the heart of a forest of poplars. The walk continues for 500 m until reaching the waterfall in the Virgins. In summer, the place is very popular with the locals who come to relax and to spend the whole day.

On the other bank of the Boukhrared wadi is the Andalusians, whose two treasures are the mosque of the Andalusians and, next door, the medersa Sahrij. Somewhat erased by the mosque El-Karaouiyne neighbour, the mosque of the Andalusians founded by a woman, Maryam al-Fihrya, the sister of Fatima (founder of Karaouiyine), in 860. The sanctuary has seven doors, whose most monumental, Bab Lahfa (gate), Barefoot is absolutely magnificent. Made of cedar and wrought iron, it is a rather unusual form for a mosque. The minaret dates back to 956. Finally, the presence of a rich library bears witness to the prestigious past of the mosque of the Andalusians. You can get there by the cif R' square or Bab Ftouh.

Prior to Bou Inania, it was built in 1325 on the order of the Mérinide Abou Said. In this mederasa mederasa, we can admire the finesse of the work of the most noble materials in Morocco, the white marble, the cedar of the Middle Atlas and bronze, in the entrance. A beautiful rectangular basin occupies the centre of the patio. What a pleasure it had to be for students to study in such a wonderful place and conducive to reflection! After long years of restoration, the mederasa reopened its doors in 2012, for the delight of lovers of calm and freshness!

More than for its not very spectacular ornaments, it is a medersa interesting to visit for its functional character. The medersa Cherratine is the largest of Fez and was built by Alaouites in the 17th century to lodge and train some 250 students.

A leisurely stroll along the edge of the Ain Chifa source, the site is very popular with the Fassis for summer picnics.

Built in 1347 by Abou Hassan, one of the largest sultans merinid, near the mosque Qaraouiyne, this very large medersa takes its name from Abou Mesbah, scholar of the neighbouring grand mosque which taught there for the first time in the rate of theology. It has a beautiful pool fully marble imported directly from Andalusia. Partially ruins, the medersa was still under renovation during our stay.

All information about hiking and itineraries is available. 

The Gouffre chasm is undoubtedly a place to visit. Nestled in the park, it is in the form of a crater 20 m in diameter. Light penetrates into this vast trough and illuminates, with multiple colours, the walls of the crater. Don't be afraid to say it, the show offered is truly sublime and deserves to be photographed. Leasing equipment and equipment at the entrance to the abyss.

A visit to this informative eco-museum is a must before any walk in the Azrou forest. You'll have all the keys you need to discover this unique forest ecosystem and learn all about its fauna, flora, management and agro-pastoral activities. Children will particularly appreciate the educational games and interactive exhibits. The site also aims to raise awareness of the need to preserve the cedar forest. Allow a good hour for your visit, as the ecomuseum is fascinating!

In the surroundings of Azrou, there is the possibility to go on a day trip to discover the lakes. This tour is best done outside the summer (the lakes are often dry). The most important lake in the region is Lake Aaoua, which is the first lake you will encounter on your way. This is followed by a succession of smaller lakes, which will take you back to the main Fès-Ifrane road. You can also join Sefrou directly. All these destinations are fairly well indicated by signs along the route.

About 10 kilometers from Imouzzer Kandar, here is a pleasant excursion in the middle of nature that will delight hiking enthusiasts. Although the djebel Abad surprises by its 1 768 meters of altitude, its ascent, of a duration of less than one hour, proves rather easy, through wooded landscapes. Once you reach the top, you will enjoy an exceptional panorama of the Sais plain and the Zerhoun Jebel. The surrounding area also attracts leisure enthusiasts with its many clear water springs, ideal for cooling off in summer.

Located in the centre of Talaa Seghira, this 19th century palace was for a time the former residence of Marshal Lyautey. It was also here that the French Protectorate Treaty was signed in 1912. A private residence richly restored, the palace has housed, since independence, a well-made tourist restaurant in a typical and preserved setting. The unique menu, consisting of several starters, a main course and a dessert, is very generous and tasty. Beautiful panoramic terrace, with breathtaking views of the medina.

You can reach the Porte aux Vents Est from Place du Méchouar by following the ramparts from the outside. The ramparts, erected in the 12th century, have been badly restored, and one does not feel the historical unity that one used to see. However, the view is remarkable in Ban er-Rih: on the mountains, plantations and forests of the Jebel Tazzeka. To return to the medina, the street from Bab er-Rih goes up near the Great Mosque and joins the souks.

Surrounded by ramparts built at the end of the 18th century, the old town is crossed by the Aggai river. The Jewish quarter, established on the south bank of the river, is connected to the Muslim quarter by pretty stone bridges. Houses with wooden balconies are still visible in the mellah, which saw its Jewish population migrate in the late 1950s. The Great Mosque, restored in the 19th century, stands near the wadi. Higher up, you can stroll through the souks to reach the west of the city, at the mausoleum of Sidi Lahcen Youssi, a resistant figure from the colonial era.

Perched atop a promontory in the heart of the cedar forest, the Toumliline monastery offers a lovely panoramic view over the valley. Founded in 1952 by Benedictine monks, it symbolizes the desire of Pope Pius XII and Mohamed V to work together to bring Islam and Christianity closer together. The chapel is the only one in the world to feature the Cherifian cross in a Christian religious monument. In 1955, after the French army closed the summer camps, the organizers asked the monks for hospitality. Young Catholics and Moroccan students organized games, debates, round-table discussions and musical evenings, and got to know each other, despite the tensions between the communities. From there, a year later under the patronage of King Mohamed V, the summer meetings were born for reflection and debate on social issues. Politicians, intellectuals, clerics, poets, psychiatrists, engineers and other personalities from all walks of life attended these meetings, which lasted until 1961. The expression "the Spirit of Toumliline" recalls these moments of dialogue, peace, respect and sharing between the different communities. Closed since 1968 for lack of funding, the monastery is at the heart of a rehabilitation project led by the Fondation Mémoires Pour l'Avenir. The project includes restoration of the chapel and library, revival of the Rencontres Internationales and creation of a spiritual itinerary in the Middle Atlas.