Things to do — Fes-Meknes Region

The Fes el-Bali medina, listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list, is the central experience of the region. You deliberately lose yourself among specialised souks, zellige fountains, zaouias and medersa decorated in stucco and carved wood. The Bou Inania medersa, a Marinid masterpiece from the 14th century, and the el-Attarine medersa, nestled near the Karaouiyine mosque, count among the finest examples of Andalusian-Moroccan architecture. Karaouiyine University, founded in 859, is considered by many historians the oldest continuously operating university in the world.

The Chouara tanneries make up the iconic image of Fes: multicoloured dye pits, visible from the terraces of leather shops, offer a spectacle largely unchanged for centuries. A few steps away, the copperware, pottery and babouches souks let you watch artisans at work and bring back authentic pieces. The craftsmanship of the Fes-Meknes region is among the most respected in the country, with a tradition of master-apprentice transmission that survives despite modern pressures.

Meknes, often overshadowed by its neighbour, is well worth the detour. The majestic Bab Mansour gate, the Agdal basin and the colossal Heri es-Souani royal granaries testify to the outsized ambitions of Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century. Some forty kilometres away, the ancient site of Volubilis presents remarkably preserved Roman-Berber mosaics, while the holy town of Moulay Idriss, perched on its twin hills, offers a unique and contemplative atmosphere. Lovers of open spaces will find in the Middle Atlas, with its cedar forests and the Ifrane resort, a verdant counterpoint to the urban riches of the Fes-Meknes region.

Beyond the monuments, the Fes-Meknes region also rewards immersive experiences. A tasting at a vineyard around Meknes, heir to a long winemaking tradition, surprises many travellers. A fassi cooking class, a session at a neighbourhood hammam or a glass of mint tea on a terrace overlooking the roofs of Fes el-Bali offer a direct line into the Moroccan art of living. Artisan workshops — Fes pottery, Meknes embroidery, leatherwork — gladly welcome the curious. It is this density of experience, as much as the sites themselves, that justifies giving the region several days.