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| Municipality of Fez | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fez |
| Native name | فَـاس |
| Settlement type | Municipality |
| Coordinates | 34.0333°N 5.0000°W |
| Country | Morocco |
| Region | Fès-Meknès |
| Province | Fès |
| Established | 789 |
| Population | 1,112,072 |
| Area total km2 | 320 |
| Timezone | Western European Time |
Municipality of Fez is the municipal authority administering the historic city of Fez and surrounding urban districts in the Fès-Meknès region of Morocco. The municipality encompasses the medieval medina of Fes el-Bali, the royal quarter Fes el-Jdid, and modern neighborhoods adjacent to transportation hubs such as Fes–Saïss Airport and Fes Railway Station. As a municipal entity it interfaces with regional bodies like the Fès-Meknès Regional Council and national ministries including the Ministry of Interior.
Fez's municipal boundaries reflect layers of settlement begun by the Idrisid dynasty under Idris I and Idris II in the 8th–9th centuries, alongside rival foundation narratives involving Zenata and Miknasa tribes. Medieval municipal life unfolded under dynasties such as the Almoravid dynasty, Almohad Caliphate, Marinid dynasty, and Saadi dynasty, with urban institutions interacting with actors like the University of al-Qarawiyyin, Al-Attarine Madrasa, and the office of the Qadi. Ottoman-era regional politics and European entanglements through contacts with the Kingdom of Portugal and Spanish Empire influenced municipal trade corridors linked to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The French protectorate period under Resident-General Hubert Lyautey reorganized municipal administration, later transitioning to post-independence frameworks shaped by monarchs Muhammad V and Hassan II and reforms under King Mohammed VI.
The municipality lies within the Atlas Mountains' northern foothills, drained by the Fez River and bordered by agricultural plains including the Saïss Plain. Elevation ranges near Jbel Zalagh and other minor summits influencing microclimates. The area's climate is classified between Mediterranean climate and semiarid climate, with seasonal patterns affected by proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, incursions of Saharan air masses, and orographic effects from the Middle Atlas. Urban green spaces intersperse with historic riads clustered in the medina and newer suburbs extending toward Meknes and Sefrou.
The municipal council operates under statutes emanating from the Ministry of Interior and the Communal Charter. Executive functions are led by a president of the municipal council and a municipal delegate system that coordinates with the Fès-Meknès Regional Council and provincial governorate offices. Administrative divisions include arrondissements and quartiers corresponding to Fes el-Bali, Fes el-Jdid, Ville Nouvelle, and peri-urban communes bordering municipalities like Meknes and Sefrou. Public services coordinate with national agencies such as the ONEE and the local utilities authority.
Population dynamics reflect centuries of immigration, with communities including descendants of Andalusians, Sephardic Jews historically tied to quartiers near the Mellah, and diverse Berber lineages from Middle Atlas and Rif regions. Census data align with national counts by the Haut Commissariat au Plan and show urbanization trends similar to Rabat and Casablanca. Linguistic profiles include speakers of Darija (Moroccan Arabic), Tamazight varieties, and communities using French for administration and Spanish in historical contexts. Religious life centers on institutions such as the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and a legacy of Jewish synagogues like Ibn Danan Synagogue.
The municipal economy combines traditional crafts in the medina—leatherwork at the Chouara Tannery, metalwork in souks near Bab Bou Jeloud—with modern sectors including services, education, and tourism linked to agencies such as the Moroccan National Tourist Office. Industrial zones near Sidi Hrazem and transport corridors toward Taza host light manufacturing and agro-processing tied to the Saïss Plain agricultural output. Municipal infrastructure projects have partnered with development banks like the African Development Bank and international preservation bodies including UNESCO which inscribed Medina of Fez as a World Heritage Site. Utilities coordination involves ONEE, municipal sanitation services, and initiatives with organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme.
Fez's cultural institutions include the University of al-Qarawiyyin, historic madrasas like Bou Inania Madrasa, and festivals such as the Festival of World Sacred Music staged alongside venues in the medina and Royal Palace precincts. Handicraft guilds maintain traditions in pottery, zellij mosaic, and leather tanning promoted by artisans' cooperatives and museums such as the Dar Batha Museum and the Museum of Moroccan Arts. Literary and intellectual legacies link figures like Ibn Khaldun and Abu Yaqub Yusuf to scholarly networks, Sufi orders such as the Qadiriyya and Shadhili have shaped religious heritage. Conservation efforts coordinate with ICOMOS standards and national patrimony agencies.
The municipality is served by Fes Railway Station on the national ONCF network connecting to Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakesh, and Tangier. Road links include the A2 motorway toward Meknes and Rabat, and national routes to Taza and Ifrane. Air connectivity is provided by Fes–Saïss Airport with carriers such as Royal Air Maroc operating domestic and international flights. Urban transit includes bus networks managed by municipal operators, taxi systems like grand taxis and Petit taxi, and heritage pedestrian routes within Fes el-Bali where access is regulated for conservation.
Municipal planning balances preservation of the Medina of Fez with expansion in the Ville Nouvelle and peripheral communes influenced by national plans such as the Emergence Plan and housing programs administered by agencies like the Fond de Solidarité Urbaine et de Cohésion Sociale. Urban regeneration projects include restoration of historic gates like Bab Bou Jeloud, rehabilitation of riads through public-private partnerships, and infrastructure upgrades funded by multilateral lenders such as the European Investment Bank and bilateral partners including the French Development Agency. Zoning addresses risks from seismic activity linked to the Atlas Mountains system and water management strategies incorporating the Sidi Harazem aquifer and local watershed initiatives.
Category:Fez, Morocco Category:Municipalities of Morocco