Al-Attarine Madrasa, 14th-century Islamic school near Souk al-Attarine spice market in Fez, Morocco.
The Al-Attarine Madrasa features intricate geometric patterns on its walls, detailed cedar wood ceilings, and colorful zellige tile mosaics throughout its courtyard.
Sultan Abu Said Osman II commissioned the construction of Al-Attarine Madrasa between 1323 and 1325 to establish a center for religious education.
Students gathered in the prayer room with its high ceilings and decorated mihrab to study Islamic theology and various branches of knowledge.
The madrasa contains student accommodations arranged around a central courtyard, providing living spaces for scholars from northwestern Morocco.
The building's bronze chandelier and perpendicular prayer niche demonstrate architectural adaptations to the available land constraints.
Location: Fez
Inception: 1320
Part of: Medina of Fez
GPS coordinates: 34.06514,-4.97361
Latest update: May 11, 2025 00:58
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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