Fez: A Medieval University City Still in Use
Fez's medina is a well-preserved old Islamic city that transports visitors back to the 14th century. Founded in the 9th century and prospering under the Marinid dynasty in the 13th-14th centuries, Fez became Morocco's political capital as well as its cultural and spiritual heart—a position it still holds today, despite the capital shifting to Rabat in 1912. Within its boundaries is a complex web of mosques, madrasas, caravanserais (fondouks), palaces, and fountains that combine to produce a continuous urban museum still inhabited by tens of thousands of people.
One of Fez's most striking attractions for visitors is that the "museum" is still a functioning city. Donkeys transport products via narrow lanes, workers hammer brass or hand-tool leather in small workshops, and students travel between Quranic and modern institutions. The Qarawiyyin complex, one of the world's oldest colleges, represents Fez's ancient intellectual legacy, attracting researchers from throughout the Maghreb and al-Andalus in the medieval period and anchoring its reputation as a center of learning. Today, heritage tourism and academic interest coexist: conservation efforts frequently engage historians, architects, and artisans, transforming the medina into a laboratory for urban renewal.
Morocco's multi-year restoration plan, beginning in 2020 with a budget of hundreds of millions of dirhams, demonstrates the country's dedication to reconciling conservation and daily living. The plan focuses on over a thousand locations, including old fondouks, mosques, hammams, and artisan districts, with the specific purpose of enhancing residents' living conditions while retaining architectural uniqueness. For travelers, guided excursions through Fez provide not only picturesque sights but also opportunity to witness how a UNESCO World Heritage city balances heritage branding, local livelihoods, and the demands of mass tourism. Fez thus provides a unique opportunity to view a medieval Islamic city functioning as a modern urban setting rather than a static monument.
