Fez (Fes): Islamic Heritage City

Foundation

Fez (فاس) was founded in 789 CE by Idris I and expanded by his son Idris II, becoming the first capital of the Idrisid dynasty in Morocco. It grew into one of the greatest centers of Islamic learning and culture in the western Muslim world, rivaling Baghdad, Cordoba, and Cairo.

University of al-Qarawiyyin

The University of al-Qarawiyyin was founded in 859 CE by Fatima al-Fihri, a woman of learning and piety. It is recognized as the oldest existing, continually operating university in the world. It became a leading center for Islamic sciences, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy. Scholars who studied or taught there include Ibn Khaldun, al-Idrisi, and Maimonides.

The Medina of Fez

The old city (Fes el-Bali) is the world's largest car-free urban zone and contains over 9,000 narrow lanes. It houses numerous mosques, madrasas, fountains, and traditional crafts. The Bou Inania Madrasa and al-Attarine Madrasa are masterpieces of Marinid architecture, featuring intricate zellij tilework, carved stucco, and cedarwood.

Scholarly Legacy

Fez produced and hosted many prominent scholars across the centuries, and its traditions of leather tanning, pottery, and textile weaving continue to this day, representing a living link to Islamic civilization's artisanal heritage.