Quick answerFès is a city in Morocco, with 1,256,172 people inside the city limits in 2024. It is best known for the University of al-Qarawiyyin, the Fès el Bali medina and the Chouara Tannery. Its official languages are Arabic and Tamazight, and its currency is the Moroccan dirham.
Fès is one of the largest cities in Morocco, with about 1.26 million people (2024 census). Founded in the 9th century, it is the oldest imperial city in the country and home to the University of al-Qarawiyyin, the oldest continuously operating university in the world.
Key facts
| Country | Morocco |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,256,172 (2024) |
| Elevation | 414 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Africa/Casablanca |
| Language | Arabic, Tamazight |
| Currency | Moroccan dirham (MAD, د.م.) |
| Coordinates | 34.0433° N, 5.0033° W |
Overview
Fès is a city in northern inland Morocco and the capital of the Fès-Meknès administrative region, north-west of the Atlas Mountains. It had 1,256,172 residents in the 2024 census, making it the third-largest city in Morocco. The old city is centred on the Fès River, which flows from west to east through the medina, and the city sits 414 metres above sea level.
Fès was founded in the 9th century and is the oldest of Morocco's imperial cities. Its medina, Fès el Bali, founded in the 9th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world, a maze of more than 9,000 lanes. In its heart stands the University of al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri and recognised by UNESCO and Guinness World Records as the oldest continuously operating university in the world.
Today Fès is known as the spiritual and cultural capital of Morocco, famous for its tanneries, above all the Chouara Tannery, its brass and pottery workshops, and its madrasas, above all the Al-Attarine and Bou Inania. It is also a centre of Moroccan crafts and of the sacred music festival held in the city every year.
What Fès is known for
- University of al-Qarawiyyin
- Fès el Bali medina
- Chouara Tannery
- Oldest imperial city
- Bab Bou Jeloud
- Moroccan crafts
Landmarks
- Fès el Bali (Old Medina)
- University of al-Qarawiyyin
- Bab Bou Jeloud
- Chouara Tannery
- Al-Attarine Madrasa
- Royal Palace (Dar el Makhzen)
- Borj Nord
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Fès?
About 1.26 million people live in Fès (1,256,172 in the 2024 census). That makes Fès the third-largest city in Morocco, after Casablanca and Tangier. It is the capital of the Fès-Meknès region in the north of the country.
What is Fès famous for?
Fès is famous for the University of al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859 and recognised as the oldest continuously operating university in the world, and for Fès el Bali, its medieval medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also known for the Chouara Tannery, its brass and pottery workshops, and its historic madrasas.
Where is Fès located?
Fès is in northern inland Morocco, north-west of the Atlas Mountains, and it is the capital of the Fès-Meknès region. It sits 414 metres above sea level, surrounded by hills, with the old city centred on the Fès River. Its coordinates are 34.04° N, 5.00° W, and its time zone is Africa/Casablanca.
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- Morocco — the country Fès is in
- Casablanca — another city in Morocco
- Marrakesh — another city in Morocco
- Rabat — another city in Morocco
- All cities in Morocco
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.