Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque, Religious institution in the Medina of Fez, Morocco.
Al-Qarawiyyin is a mosque with an attached educational institution in the old town of Fez, Morocco. The courtyard with its green-tiled roofs and white columns borders several halls of naves whose arches run in different directions.
Fatima Al-Fihri founded the building in 857 through a donation from her estate. The Almoravid dynasty expanded the prayer areas in the 11th century and added new gates that connected the complex with the surrounding lanes.
The 13th-century sundial in the minaret's north wall still divides prayer times across the old town. Residents of Fez continue to orient themselves by the light effects that fall through the minaret's openings and mark different moments of the day.
Visitors without Muslim faith can look into the courtyard from outside through open entrances, especially in the morning when fewer people are around. Women should cover head and shoulders when approaching the entrances, and all guests wear closed shoes in the narrow lanes around the building.
The mihrab contains woodcarvings from the 10th century that were crafted from a single tree. Restoration work in the 20th century revealed gilded leaf motifs beneath later layers that remain visible today.
Location: Fez
Inception: 857
Part of: Medina of Fez
GPS coordinates: 34.06500,-4.97361
Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:03
Fes preserves centuries of Moroccan history through its streets, mosques, and workshops. The medieval old town brings together religious schools such as Medersa Bou Inania and Al-Attarine Madrasa, where students studied theology and law since the 14th century. The blue gate of Bab Bou Jeloud marks the entrance to the medina, where Rue Talaa Kebira leads through old Fes. The Kairaouine Mosque has stood at the center of the city since the 9th century and houses one of the oldest universities in the world. Museums like Dar Batha display traditional ceramics and woodwork, while the Nejjarine Museum focuses on historic wooden crafts. The city also documents military history through Borj Nord and Borj Sud, two 16th-century fortresses that once guarded the medina. The Marinid Tombs sit on a hill above the city and offer views across the rooftops of Fes. In the Jewish quarter of Mellah, synagogues like Ibn Danan recall the centuries-long presence of the Jewish community. Palaces such as Dar el Makhzen with its golden gates and traditional tanneries like Chouara show how crafts shaped the city's economy. The Jnan Sbil garden provides a quiet contrast to the dense buildings of the old town.
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