Entrance to Dar Mohamed Ba CherguiFor a few dirhams, the family living there could be persuaded to show you round. This time, though, she was prevented from entering by two new guards, and couldn't get past the imposing entrance, big enough to ride into and tie up your horse. The palace comprises two majestic houses, the men's quarters and the harem. One has an imposing courtyard with central fountain and huge wall fountain surrounded by magnificently painted cedarwood doors; the other a unique garden featuring star-shaped zellij planters, painted ceilings and an interesting hammam in the old house.
The View from Fez understands from local sources that the complex, along with the massive palace opposite, Dar Ouezzane, has been sold to a consortium of businessmen from Saudi Arabia, Germany and Switzerland for an undisclosed sum (thought to be in region of several million Euros). Dar Ouezzane alone had at least 20-25 inheritors, so it must have been some deal.
The idea is to restore the buildings and convert them into a 28-room hotel which will include a bridge, or passerelle, between the two, over Derb el Horra.
Derb el Horra, with Dar Ba Mohamed Chergui on the left, and Dar Ouezzane on the rightThis is good news for Fez, and particularly for residents of the area who will benefit from increased security and property values. It's also good news for two splendid houses that had fallen into a serious state of disrepair. Other than selling them as potential hotels, there's really no other way that they could have been saved. Let's hope that the renovation will be sensitively done.
What Lumen would like to know is what has happened to the black-and-white photograph of the last Pasha to live in the house, that hung in one of the ground floor salons. She hopes it's survived and will have pride of place in the new hotel.
What Lumen would like to know is what has happened to the black-and-white photograph of the last Pasha to live in the house, that hung in one of the ground floor salons. She hopes it's survived and will have pride of place in the new hotel.
2 comments:
Oh well, there goes the neighborhood!
Yes, property prices going up.... and up.
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