The roof and minaret
The green-tiled pyramid roof and the tall carved minaret rise above the houses around them. You'll see them best from a rooftop terrace nearby; your guide knows which ones.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
The Zawiya of Moulay Idris II
The shrine of the ruler who made Fes his capital in the 9th century, and the city's patron saint. Non-Muslims can't go in, but the lanes around it, the doorway and its green roof are one of the medina's most moving corners. Here's how to see it with respect.
- Licensed Fassi guides
- Private or small-group
- A written quote for your date
What you can see
The shrine stands in the middle of Fes el-Bali, close to the Attarine Madrasa and the Kissaria market.
The doorway
Non-Muslims can stop at the main doorway and look into the courtyard, where pilgrims come to pray and light candles. Keep back from the threshold and leave your camera down when people are praying.
The old sacred boundary
Until 1912, non-Muslims and pack animals were not allowed past wooden beams set across the lanes around the shrine. Your guide can point out where the boundary ran.
The lanes around it
The streets nearby sell candles, incense and sweets for pilgrims, and lead straight into the Kissaria, the covered market for cloth and slippers.
Once a year the moussem fills the streets with drums and horns.
Place Boujloud, FesThe shrine on a medina walk
Most of our guided walks through Fes el-Bali pass the zawiya. This is how it usually fits in.
Before
The Attarine Madrasa
A few lanes away, the 14th-century madrasa of the spice sellers' quarter.
At the shrine
A pause at the doorway
Your guide tells the story of Idris II and why Fassis still come to ask for his blessing.
After
Through the Kissaria
Into the covered market, then on towards the Qarawiyyin and Place Seffarine.
Once a year
The moussem
Musicians and Sufi brotherhoods process through the medina, including on Place Boujloud. We haven't confirmed the 2027 date yet.
Visiting the zawiya
The questions people ask us most before they plan a trip.
Can non-Muslims visit the Zawiya of Moulay Idris II?
Non-Muslims cannot go inside the shrine, but they can walk the lanes around it and look through the main doorway into the courtyard. Dress modestly, keep your voice low and don't photograph people praying. Your guide will show you where to stand.
Who was Moulay Idris II?
Idris II was the son of Idris I, the founder of the Idrisid dynasty. In the early 9th century he made Fes his capital and built up the city, and Fassis regard him as the city's patron saint. He died in 828.
How old is the building?
The shrine you see today was largely rebuilt by Sultan Moulay Ismail in the early 18th century, completed around 1720 and enlarged again in the early 19th century. Its green-tiled pyramid roof and tall minaret rise above the surrounding houses.
When is the Moulay Idris II moussem in Fes?
The shrine holds an annual moussem, a pilgrimage festival with processions through the medina, including Place Boujloud. We have not been able to confirm the 2027 date yet. Ask us and we will check it for your trip.
See the heart of Fes with someone who knows its stories.
- Tell us what drew you in. Your dates, who is travelling and what you want to see.
- A person reads it. We write a day-by-day plan for your group, private or small-group.
- You change anything. Then we confirm the guides, drivers and riads.