Mosque and University Kairaouine things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Mosque and University Kairaouine
327G+XMC, Fes, Morocco
4.6(863)
Open until 9:55 PM
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The University of al-Qarawiyyin, also written Al-Karaouine or Al Quaraouiyine, is a university located in Fez, Morocco. It was founded as a mosque by Fatima al-Fihri in 857–859 and subsequently became one of the leading spiritual and educational centers of the Islamic Golden Age.
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attractions: Al Attarine Madrasa, Place Seffarine, Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts, مدرسة الشراطين, Tanneries de Fes, Mausoleum of Sidi Ahmed al-Tijani, خزانة القرويين bibliothèque karaouine, Nejjarine Fountain, Saffarin Madrasa, R'cif Mosque, restaurants: Restaurant Dar Hatim, Les Mystères de Dar Tajine, restaurant patrimoine, Badr Barbeque, DAR HAMMAD, Restaurant Fnara, Fondouk Bazaar, La Cave, Restaurant Almandar, Restaurant Palais Fes Yahya rooftop
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💙The Great Mosque is both fascinating and just happens to be one of the most instagrammable places in Paris!
💚This is the biggest mosque in Paris and the third-largest in Europe.
Its outdoor garden, mosaics and characteristic arches might make you feel you've walked into a distant land for a moment.
🇲🇦In fact, it was inspired by the al-Qarawiyyin mosque in Fez, Morocco, one of that country's most important and one of the oldest in the world. The links with Morocco are strong: Sultan Yusef of Morocco attended the inauguration in 1926 in person.
🇹🇳In addition, its 33meter minaret found its own inspiration in the Al-Zaytuna Mosque, in the heart of Tunis, in Tunisia. For the best view of the minaret, head to the mosque's gardens. The garden is surrounded by traditional arches and has beautiful tile work and mosaics.
💙Not only is the design inspired by Maghreb architecture, but specialized craftsmen were brought in from North Africa to build it in a way that would respect its original inspiration. Constructed between 1922 and 1926, the Mosquée de Paris is located in the Latin Quarter, a stone’s throw from Paris’s natural history museum. The building is dominated by a 33-metre-high minaret. It has a patio surrounded by sculpted arcades, as in the Alhambra in Granada. The prayer room is a must-see for its intricate decoration.
💚The mosque is located south of the Seine river, not far from the Pantheon and Jardins du Luxembourg.
📍2bis Place du Puits de l'Ermite, in the 5th arrondissement
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#grandmosqueparis
#secretparis
#parishistory
#paristour
yassine haddayassine hadda
The University of Al Quaraouiyine in Fez is widely regarded as one of the oldest continuously operating educational institutions in human history. According to both UNESCO and the Guinness Book of World Records, it is recognized as the oldest existing and continually operating degree-granting university in the world. It was founded in 859 AD (245 AH) by a devout woman named Fatima Al-Fihri, who dedicated her entire inheritance to building a grand mosque in the city of Fez—then a thriving center of culture and knowledge. Over time, this mosque evolved into a prestigious institution of higher learning, attracting students from across the Islamic world and even from Europe, thanks to its diverse academic curriculum, which included not only Islamic studies but also medicine, mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, music, and logic. Al Quaraouiyine thus became a global intellectual hub long before the founding of the great European universities.
Throughout its illustrious history, the University has hosted some of the most prominent thinkers and scholars, such as Ibn Khaldun, Averroes (Ibn Rushd), Al-Idrisi, and Maimonides, and even Pope Sylvester II, who is believed to have studied there and introduced Arabic scientific knowledge to Europe. Al Quaraouiyine was also the first institution known to grant a structured academic degree known as an “Ijazah,” which required rigorous attendance, scholarly engagement, and formal assessment—precursors to the modern Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees.
Architecturally, the University is housed in one of the most magnificent examples of Islamic-Andalusian design. Its vast prayer hall, ornate stucco work, calligraphy, and intricate geometric patterns reflect centuries of cultural and artistic sophistication. The University is also home to one of the oldest libraries in the Islamic world, the Al Quaraouiyine Library, which contains thousands of rare manuscripts, including hand-copied works by Ibn Sina, Averroes, and classical Qur’anic exegeses. The library was recently restored to preserve its priceless intellectual treasures.
Today, despite the transformation of Morocco’s broader educational system, Al Quaraouiyine continues to operate as a center for traditional Islamic scholarship. It is currently overseen by the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, and its current president is Dr. Amal Jalal. The university maintains its unique role in training scholars in Islamic sciences, jurisprudence, Qur’anic studies, and theology, while also embracing modern methodologies and academic governance.
Thus, Al Quaraouiyine is not merely an educational institution—it is a symbol of Morocco’s cultural, spiritual, and intellectual heritage. For centuries, it has stood as a beacon of knowledge, rational inquiry, and intercultural dialogue, affirming Morocco’s position as a crossroads of civilizations and ideas. Reflecting on the legacy of Al Quaraouiyine today is more than an academic exercise—it is a call to revitalize traditional knowledge systems and to reaffirm the value of intellectual integrity, critical thinking, and cultural rootedness in the face of modern challenges.
In this sense, the University of Al Quaraouiyine is not a relic of the past, but a living testament to the enduring power of knowledge and faith. It reminds us that the intellectual glory of Islamic civilization was—and can still be—founded on learning, tolerance, and openness. Reviving the spirit of this historic institution offers a strategic opportunity to rebuild a meaningful educational vision rooted in both authenticity and forward-looking insight.
C KhanC Khan
Mosque and University of al-Qarawiyyin is located in Fez, Morocco, The University of Al Quaraouiyine, also known as Al-Karaouine or Al Quaraouiyine, is a renowned institution of higher education. Established as a mosque by Fatima al Fihri between 857–859, it later became a prominent spiritual and educational hub. In 1963, it was integrated into Morocco's modern state university system and officially renamed "University of Al Quaraouiyine" in 1965. The mosque building is a historically significant complex of Moroccan and Islamic architecture. Al Quaraouiyine has been recognized by UNESCO and the Guinness World Records as the oldest university or oldest continually operating institution of higher learning worldwide.
The University of al-Qarawiyyin offers an education that is focused on Islamic religious and legal sciences, with a significant emphasis on Classical Arabic. Teaching is delivered using traditional methods. The university draws students from all regions of Morocco. Women were first admitted to the institution in the 1940s. Al-Qarawiyyin University's educational program is centered on Islamic religious and legal sciences. Most students at al-Qarawiyyin fall within the age range of 13 to 30 years old.
The University's present form is the outcome of a prolonged historical evolution over the course of more than 1,000 years. Successive dynasties expanded the mosque until it became the largest in Africa, with a capacity of 22,000 worshipers. The present-day mosque covers an extensive area of about half a hectare. Broadly speaking, it consists of a large hypostyle interior space for prayers (the prayer hall), a courtyard with fountains (the sahn), a minaret at the courtyard's western end, and a number of annexes around the mosque itself. Unfortunately the prayer hall was not open for visitors during our visit. The surroundings are and the architectural structure and design are stunningly exotic beautiful. A revelation for all architecture aficionados who appreciate exploring diverse cultural and architectural marvels worldwide.
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Reviews of Mosque and University Kairaouine
4.6
(863)
5.0
16wThe University of Al Quaraouiyine in Fez is widely regarded as one of the oldest continuously operating educational institutions in human history. According to both UNESCO and the Guinness Book of World Records, it is recognized as the oldest existing and continually operating degree-granting university in the world. It was founded in 859 AD (245 AH) by a devout woman named Fatima Al-Fihri, who dedicated her entire inheritance to building a grand mosque in the city of Fez—then a thriving...
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5.0
3yThe Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fez continues to show its glory and grandeur and to attract crowds to perform prayer, assuming its spiritual and civilized function, after many centuries of its foundation. Before the call to prayer is called, hundreds of worshipers who are accustomed to performing the obligatory prayer in a space that is a symbol of the Kingdom’s religious symbols come to the mosque. Since its foundation in 859 AD, at the hands of Fatima al-Fihri, the Qarawiyyin Mosque has...
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5.0
4yThe University of al-Qarawiyyin (Arabic: جامعة القرويين; Berber : ⵜⴰⵙⴷⴰⵡⵉⵜ ⵏ ⵍⵇⴰⵕⴰⵡⵉⵢⵢⵉⵏ; French: Université Al Quaraouiyine), also written Al-Karaouine or Al Quaraouiyine, is a university located in Fez, Morocco. It was founded as a mosque by Fatima al-Fihri in 859 and subsequently became one of the leading spiritual and educational centers of the historic Muslim world. It was incorporated into Morocco's modern state university system in 1963 and was officially renamed "University of Al...
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Nearby attractions of Mosque and University Kairaouine
Al Attarine Madrasa
Place Seffarine
Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts
مدرسة الشراطين
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خزانة القرويين bibliothèque karaouine
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