Fountain Restoration in the Fez Medina

The Fonduk Lihoudi fountain in the north of the Medina is the latest of the many neglected fountains in the Fez Medina to be restored, thanks to the riad booking agency, Fez Riads.

Fez Riads was set up with the express intention of supporting restoration work in the Fez Medina carried out in a private capacity. This work has been going on since back in December 2006, funded by the guesthouses represented by Fez Riads, with each of the guesthouses contributing a minimum of 2% of clients' accommodation costs to the restoration fund.

The fountain before

The fountain after repair work

Noureddine Hilal

The Fonduk Lihoudi fountain is the largest project undertaken so far and was completed in eleven days by the Zelliji and plasterer Noureddine Hilal from the restoration company T2M. 

The work involved not only massive cleaning of mould and calcification, but also replacement of missing zellij, and repair of large chunks of plaster that had been damaged by fire.

This is important work and much appreciated by local Fez residents. Fez Riads and the T2M team are to be congratulated.

Facelift for Fez medina fountains

Two fountains in the Ain Azleten district of the medina have been restored this week, financed by donations from local guesthouses.

The fountain in Derb Bouhaj

This fountain at the lower end of Derb Bouhaj is near the skin-washing facilities. It had lost most of its mosaics (zellij) and become a dumping ground for rubbish. The fountain is no longer supplied with water.

the fountain as rubbish dump

Visitors to Fez who book their accommodation through the agency Fez Riads know that some of their accommodation costs goes towards small projects of restoration in the medina. It's the medina guesthouses listed on the Fez Riads website that donate money to this fund. Fez Riads chose the newly-formed construction company T2M headed by Si Mohamed Mouaniss to complete the work.

Derb Bouhaj fountain restored

This sad little fountain in Derb Rihana is obviously well-loved as the garden around it is well tended and the earth fertilised, although there are no plants other than the tree. But the fountain itself, also no longer providing water, had lost some zellij and been partially covered with concrete. Its basin was covered with earth. Now that it's been restored, the next job will be to consult the neighbours and buy them some plants.

Derb Rihana fountain before ...

Derb Rihana fountain after

A job well done: Noureddine Hilal the zelliji and his assistant Adnan Chaouqi

Fes Festival of Sufi Culture 2010

Par Chemins has announced the 2010 dates of the ever-popular Sufi Festival: 17-24 April.

The Hamadcha Sufi brotherhood performs at the Palais Mokri, Festival 2006

The festival is the brainchild of Sufi scholar, Faouzi Skalli, and this will be the fourth edition. It explores aspects of Sufi thought and its relevance in the world today. Although the programme has not yet been released (watch this space!), there are usually talks and debates during the day and concerts of Sufi music in the evenings. All events are held in the Fez medina.

Accommodation is always at a premium at this time, so if you plan to be in Fez for the festival, check out Fez Riads. Alternatively, you might like to explore the possibility of staying with a family in a traditional house - contact Ziyarates Fes for this interesting option.

Luxurious palace in the Fez Medina

Through this magnificent door lies probably the most luxurious house in the Fez medina that has recently become available to rent for a holiday of a lifetime. Helen Ranger visits Riad Misbah.


Riad Misbah offers just about every comfort you can imagine. Not only is the house impeccably restored and sumptuously decorated with Italian fabrics and antiques, but it is fully staffed, including a cook and butler.


Off the elegant courtyard is a swimming pool that can be heated in winter, and a large hammam (traditional Moroccan steam bath). Gardens and a magnificent zellij fountain surround the pool.




The library boasts Wifi, television, a music system and, of course, books. There's a large dining room in the Italian monastery style, as well as a Moroccan salon and a ballroom with a fireplace and imposing chandeliers.

The house sleeps up to ten people in five bedrooms that are all air-conditioned; three have their own bathroom while two share one. Uniquely for Fez, the house has an efficient central heating system.

Riad Misbah is perfectly situated between Place Batha and Bab Boujloud, yet retains an air of tranquility in the midst of a busy medina. Views from the roof terraces are spectacular.

Such luxury doesn't come cheap, of course. But when you do the sums, the price per person with a full house of ten is good value. Included are airport transfers, breakfast and dinner (or lunch), the staff, use of the pool and hammam as well as a massage and half a day with a medina guide. The only extras are pool heating if necessary, laundry and alcoholic drinks (available at cost price). There's a minimum stay of three nights, and children over the age of 12 are welcome.

For a virtual tour of the courtyard, click here.

Bookings through Fez Riads.

Rubble elves descend on Fez

Residents of Zqaq Lma in the Fez medina were delighted to see their street cleared of the rubble that had been there for months.

Zqaq Lma before ...

The rubble had been left over from the repaving of this street, and nobody seemed to be taking any responsibility for removing it. Alerted to the problem by concerned residents, Fez Riads, the accommodation agency that undertakes small projects in the medina, came to the rescue yesterday and funded the clean-up.

... and after, with delighted residents

Fez Riads would like to thank all the guesthouses it represents who have made this possible, as well as the hardworking elves, the two Khalids.


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

A fine example of riad restoration in Fez

There have been a number of very large riads restored over the years with varying degrees of success. Today we report on not only the most recent, but also, thankfully, one of the better ones.

Riad Laaroussa was one of the first of the great riads offering accommodation in Fez and is about to open after two years of painstaking renovation. A 17th century palace with floors covering over 1000 square metres, Riad Laaroussa is magnificent and restoring it an astonishing achievement for a man whose grandfather was a postman in Fez.

A Frenchman, Fred Sola's ancestors traveled from Sicily to Tunisia and then on to Fez at the turn of the last century. As his father lived in Casablanca and he has numerous relatives in the rural areas around Fez, moving into the medina has been something of a homecoming. It is interesting that a pragmatic man who has achieved so much is still touched by the "spirit" of Fez. "There is definitely something happening here - beyond explanation,' says Fred, gesturing with his hands as if trying to grasp the unknown.


Although Fred has been living in Paris for the last fifteen years, residing on a houseboat on the Seine and working in the finance industry, he has proved to be something of a renaissance man. Allowing his artistic side to surface he has done most of the interior design of the riad. While the traditional aspects of the riad structure and decoration have been conserved, Fred Sola's eclectic tastes in interiors have stylishly melded Moroccan and Indonesian influences. The results are superb.


Situated in the heart of the Fez Medina, Riad Laaroussa was once home to the Minister Mnebhi. Restoring it has been a challenge and, while others might well have turned the riad into a multi-room hotel, Fred decided to create only five suites - each comfortable and spacious.


As well as fine accommodation and dining, the chef in their vast kitchen will conduct lessons in preparing Moroccan cuisine. The Riad is being managed by Fred and his wife Cathy
You can email Isabelle at: contact@riad-laaroussa.com
You will find the riad at: 3 Derb Bechara, Fès médina

Photographs: Suzanna Clarke - theviewfromfez@gmail.com

Tags: Morocco Fes, Maghreb news