Whispers from the past echo around us. We are standing before Mechouar Fes Jdid. This place is more than just a municipality. It is a vibrant part of Moroccan history.
Mechouar Fes Jdid is a municipality within the prefecture of Fes. It sits in the region of Fes-Meknes. The name Mechouar Fes Jdid translates to “New Fez”. It offers a glimpse into Morocco’s rich heritage.
Founded in 1276 by the Marinids, Fes Jdid was an extension of Fes el Bali. Fes el Bali is the old city. It served as a royal citadel and capital. The historic Royal Palace is here. It once was Morocco’s center of government. The King of Morocco still uses it sometimes.
The district also houses the Mellah. This is the historic Jewish quarter. UNESCO recognized its significance in 1981. Both Fes el Bali and Fes Jdid became a World Heritage Site.
Sultan Abu Yusuf Ya’qub established Fes el-Jdid. He intended it to be the new royal citadel. It became the center of government under Marinid rule. It included the Royal Palace, military barracks, and residential areas. Before this, power resided in Kasbah Bou Jeloud.
The decision to build a separate citadel reflected caution. Moroccan rulers were wary of Fes’s independent population. The Almohad kasbahs lacked space for a royal court. They could not house Marinid troops. Building a new palace-city symbolized Marinid power.
Initially, the city was called Madinat al-Bayda. That means the White City. Construction was rapid. The royal court moved in a year later. The Oued Fes River flowed by the northern ramparts. It was also known as the River of Pearls. Some branches ran through the city.
Two lines of walls protected the city. Gardens separated the walls on the north and south. The Old Mechouar was a fortified bridge. It spanned the Fes River. It stood between two gates. The northern gate was Bab es-Sebaa. It is now called Bab Dekkakin. The southern gate was Bab al-Qantara. It is also known as Bab al-Oued. The road to Meknes made the northern entrance important.
The Grand Mosque of Fes el-Jdid was built around 1276. It was connected to the palace by a private passage. This allowed the Sultan to easily attend prayers. Muslim neighborhoods developed around main mosques. Al-Hamra Mosque was one of these.
Abu Yusuf Ya’qub wanted to create a vast pleasure garden. His son, Abu Ya’qub Yusuf, completed it in 1287. Ibn al-Hajj, an engineer from Seville, helped. The Mosara Garden covered 67 hectares north of Fes el-Jdid. Water came from the Oued Fes via a huge noria. The noria was a waterwheel. It delivered water to Bab Dekkakin. The gardens disappeared over time. The Bab Segma Cemetery now occupies the site.
During the Marinid period, Jewish residents moved to Fes el-Jdid. Their new district was between the city walls. It was called Mellah. This was the first mellah in Morocco. Political motivations included the desire to control Jewish merchants.
The Mellah’s Jewish cemetery was established in the 15th century. A Marinid princess, Lalla Mina, donated the land.
Under the Alaouite dynasty, Fes regained its capital status. Moulay Rashid ordered a vast courtyard in the palace’s eastern part in 1671. Moulay Abdallah erected a mosque and royal necropolis. Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah established the New Mechouar.
Today, Mechouar Fes Jdid invites us to explore its layers. Royal Palace’s main entrances are worth seeing. They are at the Old Mechouar and Place des Alaouites. The Gates of the Royal Palace are highly ornate. They were built in the 20th-century.
The Jnan Sbil Gardens offer peace. They lie between Fes el-Jdid and Fes el-Bali. Bab Bou Jeloud is an ornate city gate. It was built by the French colonial administration.
As our tour ends here at Mechouar Fes Jdid, remember its story. It is a story of power. It is a story of culture and resilience. This is a place where the past continues to shape the present.