Mnebhi Palace, Palatial residence in Medina district, Fez, Morocco
Mnebhi Palace is a former residence in the Medina district of Fez, featuring a high wooden dome ceiling supported by four columns and walls decorated with intricate zellij mosaic tiles and fountains. The interior layout reflects the room arrangements and craftsmanship typical of how wealthy households were organized in Fez, now serving as a restaurant space.
The building began as a private residence for a prominent family and gained international significance when French Marshal Lyautey used it during negotiations that led to French control over Morocco. The palace thus became an important location in Morocco's transition to colonial rule.
The palace displays traditional Moroccan design through its reception rooms, courtyards with water features, and intricate mosaic decorations that show how wealthy families in Fez lived and entertained. These spaces reflect the daily rhythms and social customs of the city's most influential households.
The palace is located on Tala'a Seghira street in the old city and can be visited as a restaurant with rooftop seating. Wear comfortable shoes since the medina has narrow, uneven alleyways, and it helps to arrive earlier in the day when it is less crowded.
The complex contains three separate gardens with water features, each serving different functions from herb and vegetable cultivation to ornamental plantings for the family. These distinct garden zones show how wealthy households in Fez made careful use of water and green spaces.
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