Al-Attarine Madrasa, 14th-century Islamic school near Souk al-Attarine spice market in Fez, Morocco.
Al-Attarine Madrasa is a 14th-century school arranged around a central courtyard where students lived and studied. Its interior features intricate geometric wall patterns, hand-carved wooden ceilings, and colorful tilework in the courtyard spaces.
The building was commissioned between 1323 and 1325 by Sultan Abu Said Osman II to serve as a center for religious education. This foundation was part of a broader effort to advance learning in theology and various sciences in Fez.
The name reflects the adjacent spice market, where students and scholars moved daily between their studies and the bustling trade route. This connection to commerce remains visible in how the building sits within the crowded medina.
The madrasa sits in a crowded medina area, so access involves navigating narrow lanes and tight spaces. Comfortable shoes and patience with close quarters are essential for exploring this intimate setting.
The prayer niche is positioned perpendicular to the courtyard rather than facing inward, an adaptation to the tight layout. This unconventional placement reveals how builders solved the puzzle of fitting religious requirements into limited urban space.
Location: Fez
Inception: 1320
Part of: Medina of Fez
GPS coordinates: 34.06514,-4.97361
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:40
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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