Attraction
Bou Inania Madrasa
A 14th-century Marinid madrasa near Bab Bou Jeloud, built for Sultan Abu Inan Faris and known for its marble courtyard, carved cedar and minaret.
Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts
An 18th-century merchants' inn on Place Nejjarine, restored in the 1990s and opened in 1998 as a museum of Moroccan woodwork and carpentry.
At a glance
- Type
- Woodwork museum in an 18th-century funduq
- Area
- Fes el-Bali, Fes, Morocco
Good to know
- Rooftop terrace
- Historic caravanserai
- Craft collection
Why we recommend it
The Nejjarine Museum occupies a funduq, a merchants' inn and warehouse, that was commissioned in 1711 during the reign of Sultan Moulay Ismail. For two centuries it served as a trading centre and lodging for visiting merchants, with goods stored on the ground floor and rooms above, and it was closely tied to the state. Some of its rooms were owned by Jewish merchants of the city before the colonial period. It was classified as a national monument in 1916, used as a police station by the French authorities in the 1940s, then restored between 1990 and 1996.
On 23 May 1998 it opened as the Musée Nejjarine des Arts et Métiers du Bois, a museum dedicated to woodwork. The collection brings together carved and painted pieces from across Morocco: monumental doors, musical instruments, religious objects and the wooden boards on which Qur'an students practised their writing. Some objects show the Andalusian-influenced style of Fes, while others reflect Amazigh traditions from the countryside. In the courtyard stands the large metal scale once used to weigh goods traded in the building.
The building itself is a large part of the appeal. Galleries rise around the central courtyard, and the restoration gives a clear idea of how a working funduq looked. Climb to the top for the roof terrace, which has a café and a broad view over the medina rooftops, and is a good place for a mint tea in the middle of a long walk.
Outside, Place Nejjarine is named after the carpenters who have worked around it since the Marinid era, and woodworking remains part of the character of the surrounding lanes. In front of the museum stands the Nejjarine Fountain, a public drinking fountain built in the 19th century under Sultan Abd al-Rahman, with a zellij facade under a carved wooden canopy. It is one of the most photographed fountains in Fes.
Allow about an hour, including time on the terrace. Photography rules inside the galleries can vary, so ask at the entrance. The museum is in the heart of Fes el-Bali, a short walk from Tala'a Kebira and the Zawiya of Moulay Idris II, and it fits well between a visit to the Bou Inania Madrasa and the lower medina around the Qarawiyyin.
Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts FAQs
How old is the building?
The funduq was commissioned in 1711 under Sultan Moulay Ismail.
When did the museum open?
It opened on 23 May 1998 after a restoration carried out between 1990 and 1996.
What is in the collection?
Historic woodwork from across Morocco, including doors, musical instruments, religious objects and boards carved by Qur'an students.
Is there a café?
Yes, there is a rooftop terrace café with views over the medina.
What is the Nejjarine Fountain?
A 19th-century public drinking fountain in front of the museum, built under Sultan Abd al-Rahman, with zellij tiles and a carved wooden canopy.
How long should I allow?
About an hour, including a drink on the roof terrace.
Where is it?
On Place Nejjarine in the heart of Fes el-Bali, a short walk from Tala'a Kebira and the shrine of Moulay Idris II.
Why is the square called Nejjarine?
The name means carpenters, after the woodworkers' souk that has existed around the square since the Marinid era.