Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Fes el Bali from the Merinid Tombs · Photo: YassirZek, CC BY-SA 4.0
Borj Nord and the Merinid Tombs sit on the hillside north of Fes el-Bali and give the classic panorama over the walled medina. Borj Nord is a 16th-century Saadian fortress that now holds the Arms Museum. The Merinid Tombs are the ruins of a Marinid royal necropolis. Come at sunset, when the call to prayer rises from below.
On the hillside that rises to the north of Fes el-Bali stand two of the city's best vantage points. Borj Nord is a 16th-century fortress built in the Saadian period under Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur, set on the slope to command and overlook the old medina; today it houses the Arms Museum (Musée des Armes), with a large collection of weaponry spanning many periods. A short way along the same ridge are the ruined Merinid (Marinid) Tombs, weathered fragments of a royal necropolis from the Marinid dynasty. Together this hillside gives the classic panorama over the whole walled medina, a sweep of flat rooftops, minarets and city gates that is especially striking at sunset, when the call to prayer rolls up the valley from the mosques below.
Pinned on OpenStreetMap, with the walk from the nearest gate. The places around it link to their own guides.
About 18 minutes on foot from Bab Mahrouk باب المحروق, 1.2 km through the lanes, then 11 more to the Merinid Tombs.
The hillside sits north of Fes el-Bali, above the medina walls. Many visitors take a petit taxi up to Borj Nord or the Merinid Tombs and walk along the ridge between them; the energetic can climb on foot from the medina, though it is a steady uphill in the heat. Agreeing a fare in advance or asking the driver to wait is common practice.
This is one of the prime photo spots in Fes, taking in the whole medina at once. The ruined tombs give a ready-made foreground, and side light at the start and end of the day picks out the texture of the rooftops and minarets. A zoom helps isolate landmarks such as the Qarawiyyin minaret within the sea of buildings.
A natural plan is to explore Fes el-Bali during the day, then head up to the hillside in the late afternoon to see from above the maze you have just walked through. Some visitors do the reverse, starting at the viewpoint to orient themselves before descending into the medina to find the landmarks they spotted from the ridge.
There is little shade on the exposed ridge, so bring water, sun protection and comfortable shoes for the uneven ground around the tombs. The Arms Museum at Borj Nord keeps its own opening hours and admission, so check current museum opening times and entry fees locally before you go.
A local guide or driver can time the trip for the best light, explain the Saadian fortress and the Marinid necropolis, and point out the medina's landmarks from above. It also takes the guesswork out of the climb and makes it simple to fold the viewpoint into a half-day that includes a deeper walk through Fes el-Bali.
The questions people ask us most before they plan a trip.
Merinid Tombs and Borj Nord at sunsetUp the northern hill on foot to watch the sun set over the medina.See the walk
The Andalusian QuarterThe quiet east bank of Fes el-Bali, up to Bab Ftouh.Read the guide
Bab R'cif and the riverA working square in the lower medina where the Oued Fes runs under the city.Read the guide
Jnan Sbil GardensA green pause between the two old cities, with a lake and a waterwheel.Read the guide
