About this place
Practical information
Points included in this audio guide
Central Courtyard
The heart of Al-Attarine Madrasa: a rectangular space centred on a marble fountain, with students' rooms on the upper floor looking down over it.
Prayer Hall
Accessed through a richly carved muqarnas arch, this hall cleverly resolves the misalignment between the building's axis and the qibla — a fine example of Marinid ingenuity.
Mihrab
Set perpendicular to the main axis due to spatial constraints, this prayer niche in the south wall features the most concentrated decorative detail in the entire complex.
Student Rooms (Second Floor)
Thirty plainly appointed rooms on the upper floor, once home to students studying near Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque — a striking contrast to the ornate spaces below.
Ablution Hall (Mida'a)
The ablution hall, or mida'a, is a ritual space integrated into the functional layout of the Medersa Al-Attarine, designed for purification before prayer. Accessed from the entrance vestibule on its northern side, it represents one of the essential functional elements of the complex.
Original Bronze Chandelier
A rare 14th-century Marinid chandelier still hanging in situ in the prayer hall, while many other original fittings have long since been moved to museums.
Original Doors (Replicas in Situ)
The doors at the entrance are faithful 14th-century replicas; the originals are preserved at the Batha Museum in Fez to protect them from further deterioration.
- 1.Central Courtyard
- 2.Prayer Hall
- 3.Mihrab
- 4.Student Rooms (Second Floor)
- 5.Ablution Hall (Mida'a)
- 6.Original Bronze Chandelier
- 7.Original Doors (Replicas in Situ)
Kids audio available
Kids version available with adapted and fun language for the little ones (17 min)
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