Al-Qarawiyyin & Al-Attarine

Where it is & how to get there

• On foot: In the heart of Fes el-Bali, near the Seffarine square and the tanneries.
• Viewing: Non-Muslims can look into the mosque courtyard from the doors.
• Madrasa: Al-Attarine Madrasa is a few steps away and open to all visitors.

The story of Al-Qarawiyyin

Al-Qarawiyyin was founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri, a woman from Kairouan, as a mosque and centre of learning. It is often described as the oldest continuously operating educational institution in the world, and its library holds rare manuscripts.

Nearby, the Al-Attarine Madrasa, built by the Marinid sultans between 1323 and 1325, is one of the finest examples of Moroccan decoration, with carved cedar, stucco lace and zellige around a small courtyard.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Non-Muslims can only look in from the doors at Al-Qarawiyyin.
• Dress modestly in the old medina.
• Look up at the madrasa's carved cedar ceilings.

What's around Al-Qarawiyyin

• Al-Attarine MadrasaMarinid masterpiece next to the mosque.
• Chouara Tannery5 minutes away.
• Seffarine SquareCoppersmiths at work.
• Bou Inania MadrasaAnother great madrasa near Bab Boujloud.

Questions travellers ask