Al Attarine Madrasa — Attraction in Fez

The Al-Attarine Madrasa, also known as Medersa al-Attarine, is situated in Fes, Morocco. It was commissioned by Marinid Sultan Uthman II Abu Said. The madrasa's name is derived from the nearby Souk al-Attarine, a market specializing in spices and perfumes. It is regarded as a pinnacle of Marinid architecture, notable for its intricate and harmonious decoration, as well as its efficient utilization of limited space.

The al-Attarine Madrasa was situated in close proximity to the al-Qarawiyyin Mosque/University, the central center of learning in Fes and historically the most distinguished intellectual center of Morocco. The madrasas provided accommodations for students, particularly those coming from outside of Fes.

The madrasa has been classified as historic heritage monument in Morocco since 1915. It is now open as a historic site and tourist attraction.

The madrasa is a two-story structure, with an L-shaped bent entrance situated at the eastern extremity of Tala'a Kebira street, facilitating access. The courtyard is flanked by galleries on its southern and northern sides, featuring two square pillars and two smaller marble columns, which provide support for three intricately carved wood arches situated at the center. The second-floor facades, overlooking the courtyard, are distinguished by windows and are accessible via a staircase located off the southern side of the entrance vestibule. This floor comprises 30 rooms, formerly utilized as sleeping quarters for students. An elaborately decorated archway situated at the courtyard's eastern end grants access to the prayer hall.

The prayer hall itself features a rectangular design, but a triple-arched gallery on its north side enabled architects to position a square wooden cupola above the main space in front of the mihrab. Although its exterior appears completely unadorned, the madrasa is renowned for its intricate and refined interior decoration, showcasing a meticulous balance between disparate elements, epitomizing the pinnacle of Marinid architectural achievement. The floor pavement, lower walls, and pillars are adorned with mosaic tilework.

Walking through the Marinid was a truly delightful and captivating experience, particularly for aficionados of architecture. Regrettably, I did not have sufficient time to fully explore this culturally rich and architecturally...

Built between 1323 and 1325 under the orders of Sultan Abu Said, the Medersa Attarine is the most beautiful in Fez. The Medersa Attarine was one of the main schools of Quranic religion in which students could reside during their studies. As a large part of the courses took place in the Al Quaraouiyine mosque, most of the medersas (or madrasas) of the city were located in its surroundings. This Attarine medersa, which is so called because of the district in which it is located, remained in use until the beginning of the 20th century, when the 60 students who lived in the 30 rooms had to abandon them permanently. The interior of the medersa The medersa extends around an interior courtyard in the middle of which stands an imposing marble fountain. At the end of the patio, a cedar wood dome with abundant ornaments covers the prayer room in which you can contemplate the mihrab indicating the direction of Mecca. The walls of the medersa are decorated with beautiful mosaics on which are inscribed phrases from the Koran. On the upper part of the walls, you can admire impressive floral motifs. The upper floors of the Medersa Attarine are occupied by the small rooms in which the young students spent their...

La historia habla😍 The al-Attarine madrasa was built between 1323 and 1325 on the orders of the Marinid sultan Abu Sa'id Uthman II. The supervisor of construction was Sheikh Beni Abu Muhammad Abdallah ibn Qasim al-Mizwar. According to the Rawd el-Qirtas (historical chronicle), the sultan personally observed the laying of the madrasa's foundations, in the company of local ulema.

The creation of the madrasa, as with all Islamic religious and charitable institutions of the time, required the endowment of a habous, a charitable trust usually consisting of mortmain properties, which provided revenues to sustain the madrasa's operations and upkeep, set up on the sultan's directive. This provided for the madrasa to host an imam, muezzins, teachers, and accommodations for 50-60 students. Most of the students at this particular madrasa were from towns and cities in northwestern Morocco such as Tangier, Larache, and Ksar el-Kebir.

The madrasa has been classified as historic heritage monument in Morocco since 1915. The madrasa has since been restored many times, but in a manner consistent with its original architectural style. Today it is open as a historic site and...