Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque, Fes · Photo: Ahmed, CC BY-SA 4.0
Al-Qarawiyyin is the great mosque and university at the heart of Fes el-Bali, traditionally founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri. Its university is often described as the oldest continuously operating degree-granting institution in the world. Non-Muslims may not enter the prayer hall, but you can look into the courtyard from its doorways and visit the madrasas nearby.
At the heart of Fes el-Bali stands al-Qarawiyyin, the great mosque and centre of learning that gives the medina much of its identity. It is traditionally said to have been founded in 859 CE by Fatima al-Fihri, a woman of a family that had migrated from Kairouan in present-day Tunisia, and it grew over the centuries into one of the most important seats of learning in the Muslim world. UNESCO and many institutions describe its associated university as among the oldest, and often as the oldest, continuously operating degree-granting educational institution in the world, and its historic library is regularly cited as one of the oldest libraries anywhere, holding a remarkable collection of manuscripts. The mosque is a working place of worship, so non-Muslim visitors may not enter the prayer hall, but you can glimpse the vast courtyard and forest of arches through its great doorways, walk the surrounding lanes that grew up around it, and visit the madrasas built nearby to house its students.
Pinned on OpenStreetMap, with the walk from the nearest gate. The places around it link to their own guides.
About 9 minutes on foot from Bab Guissa باب عجيسة, 620 m through the lanes.
The teaching that grew up around the mosque is widely described as one of the oldest, and frequently as the oldest, continuously operating degree-granting university in the world, a distinction noted by UNESCO and many reference works. For centuries scholars came to Fes to study religious sciences, law, language, astronomy and more, and the institution is still part of Morocco's university system today.
Rising above the rooftops, the minaret of al-Qarawiyyin is one of the oldest surviving in Fes and a key landmark for orienting yourself in the maze of the medina. Its green-tiled cap is a recurring feature of the skyline, best appreciated from one of the medina's rooftop terraces, from which the scale of the mosque amid the dense quarter becomes clear.
Attached to al-Qarawiyyin is a library often described as one of the oldest in the world, holding a celebrated collection of manuscripts including very early and rare works. After a major restoration completed in the 2010s, parts of the library complex have at times been opened, and its cafe and reading spaces have welcomed visitors; access can vary, so it is worth checking the current arrangements locally.
Even though you are viewing al-Qarawiyyin from outside, it is a major active mosque, so dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered and keep your voice low near the doorways. Be discreet with photography, avoid blocking entrances used by worshippers, and do not attempt to step inside; behaving as you would near any working place of worship is both courteous and expected.
Seeing al-Qarawiyyin itself is mostly a matter of finding the right doorways and lanes, which takes only a short time, so most visitors combine it with the nearby madrasas, library and souks to make a fuller outing. Opening hours for the madrasas and any accessible parts of the library can vary, and there are small entry fees for the madrasas, so check current prices and times locally.
A local guide is especially valuable here, knowing which doorways give the best glimpses into the mosque, recounting the story of Fatima al-Fihri and the institution's long history, and linking al-Qarawiyyin to the madrasas, library, souks and metalworkers' square around it. A guide also makes navigating the tangle of lanes in this part of Fes el-Bali far easier.
The questions people ask us most before they plan a trip.
Madrasas and mosques of FesBou Inania, the Attarine, the Qarawiyyin's doors and the Saffarin madrasa.See the walk
First-day orientation walkThe landmarks, the two main streets and the way home.See the walk
Bou Inania MadrasaThe Marinid college you can walk into: marble court, cedar and stucco.Read the guide
Bab BoujloudThe blue gate most visitors walk through into Fes el-Bali.Read the guide
Al-Attarine MadrasaA small Marinid madrasa in the spice souk, next to the Qarawiyyin.Read the guide
