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باب سيد العواد

Bab Sidi Laouad

Bab Sidi Laouad is a gate at R'cif, in the lower part of Fes el-Bali, that leads from Place R'cif towards the Seffarine square. Local press describes it as the main entrance on the R'cif side.

Plan a day from this gateRead its story

The R'cif way in, a few steps from the coppersmiths.Plan a day from this gate

  • Fes el-Bali, R'cif, in the lower medina by the Oued Fes
  • Also written Bab Sid L'Aouad, Bab Sidi el-Aouad, Bab Sid el-Awad, باب سيدي العواد
Drawn, not photographed: we show no photo we can’t confirm is this gate.

The story of Bab Sidi Laouad

A 2024 article in the Moroccan paper Al-Omk calls Bab Sid el-Aouad the main entrance to the old city at R'cif. It notes that visitors often parked at Bab Jdid and walked or took a bus from there. al3omk.com (source, opens in a new tab)

In February 2024 Le360, citing the paper Assabah, reported that part of Bab Sid L'Aouad in the R'cif quarter had been demolished to make a car park for about 40 vehicles. Residents and local associations objected. fr.le360.ma (source, opens in a new tab)

Reports from the same week disagree about which structure was taken down. Al-Omk quoted a source saying the demolished Bab R'cif arch was not historic and dated from the city's 2003–2015 municipal term. al3omk.com (source, opens in a new tab)

Where Bab Sidi Laouad 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 سيد العوادBab Sidi Laouadباب سيد العوادBab Sidi Laouad

Bab Sidi Laouad 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. Seffarine squareساحة الصفارين3 min walk
  2. The Qarawiyyinجامع القرويين5 min walk
  3. Andalusian Mosqueجامع الأندلس8 min walk

Plan a day from this gate

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

An elderly potter in a white coat and glasses shaping clay in a Fes workshop, rows of unfired cups beside himFull day from FesFes Artisan WorkshopsA full day inside the workshops that made Fes famous — the zellige tile cooperative at Aïn Nokbi, the blue-pottery kilns, and the hammering brass quarter of Place Seffarine.See how the day runsGreen-tiled roofs of the Kissaria and Souk al-Attarine, the Moulay Idris II minaret beyondHalf day from FesFes Spiritual & Andalusian QuarterA half-day on the quieter east bank of the medina — the Andalusian quarter founded by refugees from Córdoba, its great mosque, the zawiyas and the spiritual heart of Fes.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 Sidi Laouad

What people ask us before they walk through it.

Where is Bab Sidi Laouad?
At R'cif, in the lower medina of Fes el-Bali near the Oued Fes, between Place R'cif and the Seffarine square.
Is Bab Sidi Laouad the same as Bab R'cif?
They are mapped as separate gates about 80 metres apart. The press reports on the 2024 demolition at R'cif mix up the two names.
How far is the Seffarine square from Bab Sidi Laouad?
About 125 metres. The coppersmiths' square is a short walk north of the gate.

Start at Bab Sidi Laouad. 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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