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The blue-tiled outer face of Bab Boujloud: three horseshoe arches under a crenellated top, two minarets seen through the main arch

باب أبي الجنود

Bab Boujloud

Bab Boujloud is the tiled, triple-arched gate at the western end of Fes el-Bali, built in 1913 as a ceremonial entrance to the old city. Its outer face is blue, its inner face green, and through the main arch you see the minaret of the Bou Inania Madrasa.

Plan a day from this gateRead its story

Blue outside, green inside: the tiled gate of 1913.Plan a day from this gate

  • Fes el-Bali, western entrance on Place Bou Jeloud
  • 1913, French Protectorate (beside an older gate that may date from the 12th century)
  • Also written Bab Bou Jeloud, Bab Boujeloud, Bab Abi al-Jounoud, Blue Gate, باب بوجلود
Bab Boujloud, Fes. Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0

The story of Bab Boujloud

The name is older than the gate. One account reads Bou Jeloud as a local form of Abu al-Junud, "father of the troops", after the parade ground that is now Place Bou Jeloud, just west of the gate. en.wikipedia.org (source, opens in a new tab)

The earlier Bab Bou Jeloud was a plain gate that may date from the 12th century. Its passage ran at a right angle to the Tala'a Kebira street, a common defensive layout. It still stands, walled up, to the left of the tiled gate when seen from outside. en.wikipedia.org (source, opens in a new tab)

After the French Protectorate began in 1912, the head of municipal services, Captain Mellier, planned a new opening in the wall that December. A stable and three shops held as a charitable endowment (waqf) were bought and demolished, and the gate went up in 1913. en.wikipedia.org (source, opens in a new tab)

Historians of the walls see Bab Boujloud as purely ornamental. By the 20th century the gates of Fes had become formal entrances rather than defences. en.wikipedia.org (source, opens in a new tab)

Where Bab Boujloud is

Pinned on OpenStreetMap, with the walks from the gate to the places nearest it. Each one links to its own guide.

فاس الباليFes el-BaliTalaa Kebira · الطالعة الكبيرةباب بوجلودBab Boujloudباب المحروقBab Mahroukباب عجيسةBab Guissaباب الفتوحBab Ftouhباب الجديدBab JdidالقرويينQarawiyyinالشوارةChouaraالرصيفRcifعدوة الأندلسAndalusian bankقبور المرينيينMerinid Tombsالبرج الشماليBorj NordالبوعنانيةBou Inaniaفاس الجديدFes el-Jdidواد فاسOued Fesمكناس · وليلي · الرباطMeknes · Volubilis · Rabatشفشاون · طنجةChefchaouen · the Rif · Tangierصفرو · إفرانSefrou · Ifrane · the Middle AtlasمراكشMarrakechمرزوكةMerzouga · Erg Chebbiفاس الباليFes el-Baliخارج الأسوارOut through the gatesأبعد من فاسOff the edge of the mapالرياضYour riadN500 m (schematic)باب أبي الجنودBab Boujloudباب أبي الجنودBab Boujloud

Bab Boujloud is a gate in the walls. These are the places closest to it, with the walk to each one through the lanes:

Close by

  1. Bou Inania madrasaالمدرسة البوعنانية2 min walk
  2. Dar Bathaدار البطحاء6 min walk
  3. Jnan Sbil gardenجنان السبيل7 min walk

Plan a day from this gate

Suggestions to start from: each day can begin at Bab Boujloud or take in the places around it. Private or small-group, with a guide who lives here, and quoted for your dates.

Carved plaster walls and the minaret of the Bou Inania madrasa under a blue sky with cloudsFull day from FesFes el-Bali Medina & TanneriesA full day on foot through Fes el-Bali with a local historian — Bab Boujloud, the Qaraouiyine, Bou Inania medersa and the Chouara tanneries from a private terrace.See how the day runsSacks of spices and dried red chillies at a spice stall in the Fes medinaHalf day from FesFes Food TourA half-day grazing walk through Fes el-Bali — bissara, sardine maakouda, fresh msemen, camel sausage, the city's famous pastries and mint tea, with a local food guide.See how the day runsBab Mansour, the great tiled gate of Meknes, glowing in low evening sun3 days from FesImperial Cities: Fes, Meknes & RabatThree days across three of Morocco's imperial capitals — a deep day in Fes, the monuments of Meknes and Roman Volubilis, and the seat of government in Rabat.See how the day runs

The other nine gates

Every gate in the walls has its own page. Pick one on the map or from the list.

فاس الباليFes el-BaliTalaa Kebira · الطالعة الكبيرةالقرويينQarawiyyinالشوارةChouaraالرصيفRcifعدوة الأندلسAndalusian bankقبور المرينيينMerinid Tombsالبرج الشماليBorj NordالبوعنانيةBou Inaniaفاس الجديدFes el-Jdidواد فاسOued Fesمكناس · وليلي · الرباطMeknes · Volubilis · Rabatشفشاون · طنجةChefchaouen · the Rif · Tangierصفرو · إفرانSefrou · Ifrane · the Middle AtlasمراكشMarrakechمرزوكةMerzouga · Erg Chebbiفاس الباليFes el-Baliخارج الأسوارOut through the gatesأبعد من فاسOff the edge of the mapالرياضYour riadN500 m (schematic)

Questions about Bab Boujloud

What people ask us before they walk through it.

How old is Bab Boujloud?
The tiled gate was built in 1913 under the French Protectorate. The older gate it replaced, which may date from the 12th century, is still there, walled up, just to its left.
Why is it called the Blue Gate?
The outer face is covered in mostly blue tilework. The inner face, which looks into the medina, is mostly green.
What do you see through the arch?
Standing outside, you can see the minarets of the Bou Inania Madrasa and the Sidi Lazzaz Mosque framed by the main arch.
Can a tour start at Bab Boujloud?
Yes. Our full-day medina walk and the food tour both begin here, and any private walk can start at the gate. Ask for a quote with your dates.

Start at Bab Boujloud. We'll plan the rest of the day with you.

  1. Tell us what drew you in. Your dates, who is travelling and what you want to see.
  2. A person reads it. We write a day-by-day plan for your group, private or small-group.
  3. You change anything. Then we confirm the guides, drivers and riads.
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