Fes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Fes Fas / ⴼⴰⵙ / فاس Fez Flag Fes Location in Morocco Coordinates: 34°2′N 5°0′W / 34.033°N 5.000°W / 34.033; -5.000Coordinates: 34°2′N 5°0′W / 34.033°N 5.000°W / 34.033; -5.000 Country  Morocco Region Fès-Boulemane Founded 789 Founder Idrisid dynasty Government  • Mayor Hamid Chabat  • Governor Mohamed Rerrhabi Elevation 1,900 ft (579 m) Population (2012)  • Total 1,044,376  • Population Rank in Morocco 2nd Racial makeup  • Arab 57.1%  • Berber 32.7%  • Moriscos 10.2% Website www.fes-city.com UNESCO World Heritage Site Medina of Fez Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List Bab Bou Jeloud, "The Blue Gate" of Fez. Country Morocco Type Cultural Criteria iii, iv Reference 170 UNESCO region Arab States Inscription history Inscription 1981 (5th Session) Leather tanning in Fes Panoramic view of the Old Medina

Fes or Fez (Arabic: فاس‎, Moroccan Arabic , Berber: Fas, ⴼⴰⵙ) is the third largest city of Morocco, with a population of approximately 1 million (2010). It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region.

Fas el Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its medina, the larger of the two medinas of Fes, is believed to be the world's largest contiguous car-free urban area. Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in AD 859, is the oldest continuously functioning madrasa in the world. The city has been called the "Mecca of the West" and the "Athens of Africa".