Fes Full Day City Tour (with lunch)

Visit to Fez, the oldest of the 4 imperial cities, known as the capital of traditional Moroccan culture or the cradle of knowledge; its superb constructions are the flamboyant symbol of this region, marked by the luxurious memory of the great royal dynasties, celebrated for their riches; the region is a face of Morocco's rich history.
Discovery of Fes El Jdid, the new city: Stop in front of the monumental gates of the Royal Palace. Then visit the Jewish quarter or Mellah. The name "Mellah," which later gave its name to the rest of the Moroccan Jewish quarters, comes from the Arabic word for "salt," as salt was highly valued in ancient times and Jews used it as currency. Although isolated in their neighborhood, Jews preferred in the past to stay within the fortified enclosure surrounding the palace to benefit from the direct protection of the sultans. The Jewish community had a monopoly on trade with precious metals, which was very productive since, historically, buying gold and silver was one of the best ways to save. The most important features that differentiate the Jewish quarter from Muslim communities can still be appreciated. One of the most important details concerns the construction of buildings, equipped with exterior balconies in wrought iron trellis, completely different from Moroccan houses, in which windows face an interior courtyard.
We will continue by the Borj Nord. The Borj Nord is a fort built in 1582 to the north of Fez, Morocco, on the order of Sultan Ahmed al-Mansur, whose plan was inspired by the architecture of 16th-century Portuguese fortresses. It was one of the largest surveillance posts in the city of Fez and also served as a cannon foundry.
Visit to the arms museum.
We will then enter the medina to have lunch at the Mnhebi Palace, the former residence of Marshal Lyautey and the only monument restaurant in Morocco. Then discovery of Fes El Bali and its historical monuments: Fès el-Bali is the oldest district founded between 789 and 808 by the Idrisid dynasty. It contains some of the most beautiful buildings in Morocco, including two monuments built in the 9th century: the Mosque of the Andalusians and the Quaraouiyine Mosque. The immense medina has retained its medieval structures. Fès el-Bali is entirely car-free. It includes about 10,000 streets, generally very narrow (from 1 meter wide, or even less, to a few meters at most), and they are, for practical reasons, without cars and sometimes even without motorcycles due to the frequent stairs. Cycling there is not easy for the same reasons. With 156,000 inhabitants in 2002, the medina of Fès el-Bali has a very high population density of about 55,000 inhabitants/km². It is undoubtedly the largest contiguous car-free area in the world today.
Interior visit of the Attarine Madrasa built in 859, which was one of the main Quranic religious schools and is considered by UNESCO as the oldest university in the world. It is built around an inner courtyard in the middle of which stands an imposing marble fountain. At the end of the patio, a dome made of cedar wood with abundant ornaments covers the prayer room where you can contemplate the mihrab indicating the direction of Mecca. The walls of the madrasa are decorated with beautiful mosaics on which phrases from the Quran are inscribed. On the upper part of the walls, you can admire impressive floral motifs. The upper floors of the building are occupied by small rooms in which young students spent their study years. It is distinguished above all by the elegance and harmony of its architecture. It is one of the best-preserved and most beautifully decorated madrasas in Morocco.
The Karaouyine Mosque, one of the oldest and most illustrious in the Muslim world, was the first university in Morocco attended by famous scholars such as Ibn Khaldoun, Ibn Al Khatib, Averroes. Still considered one of the main spiritual and intellectual centers of Islam, it takes its name from the neighborhood in which it was erected, that of the Kairouanese refugees.
The Nejjarine Fountain and the Fondouk Nejjarine, which is one of the most well-known buildings in Fez, Morocco. This fondouk or caravanserai, built in the 18th century for the reception, restoration, and accommodation of merchants from the interior, was declared a national monument in 1916 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It houses a charming wood museum.
The Souks & Dyers' area : Fez is also famous for its leather goods, much of which comes from the Tanners' Souk. The souk is home to three ancient tanneries, the largest and oldest being the Chouara Tannery, which is nearly a thousand years old.