Sahrij Madrasa

The Sahrij Madrasa is one of the oldest and most rewarding of the Marinid colleges of Fes, and because it lies on the eastern bank of the medina, away from Tala'a Kebira, it sees far fewer visitors than Bou Inania or Al-Attarine. Construction began in 1321 and was completed in 1323. It was commissioned by Abu al-Hassan, then a prince and heir to the throne, in honour of his father, Sultan Abu Sa'id Uthman II, and Abu al-Hassan went on to become sultan himself in 1331.

The building was originally known as al-Madrasa al-Kubra, the Greater Madrasa, but it later took its name from the sahrij, the pool in its central courtyard, which reflects the carved facades around it. The decoration is a fine example of early Marinid work, with some of the earliest zellij tilework of the period alongside carved wood and stucco, and student rooms on two floors around the courtyard.

The madrasa has been restored several times, during the Saadian period, again between 1917 and 1924, and most recently by the city's heritage agency ADER-Fès as part of a rehabilitation programme for Fes el-Bali that began in 2013. It reopened in 2017, and part of its role today is to house students of the Qarawiyyin University and to host Arabic calligraphy courses. That makes it a working building as well as a monument, so be considerate of students and staff.

It is connected to the smaller Sba'iyyin Madrasa next door, and it stands close to the Mosque of the Andalusians, one of the two great early mosques of Fes. Non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque, but the area around it is a good place to see everyday life in the medina without crowds. Allow around 30 minutes for the madrasa itself.

To get there, cross from the Qarawiyyin side of the medina over the river towards the Andalous quarter; the walk from Place Seffarine takes about ten minutes, and from Bab Bou Jeloud allow around 30 minutes downhill. The lanes here are less signposted than on the main streets, so a map on your phone or a guide is helpful. Combine the visit with Place Seffarine and the Chouara area on the other bank for a full morning.