About this place
Practical information
Points included in this audio guide
Central Courtyard
The marble-paved central courtyard of the Bou Inania Madrasa features a functioning ablutions fountain fed by the river beneath the medina, its walls richly covered in tilework, carved stucco and carved wood.
Prayer Hall (Mosque)
Accessed via two small marble bridges across the water channel, the prayer hall on the south side of the courtyard is reserved for Muslim worshippers and gives Bou Inania its rare status as a congregational mosque.
Minaret
The only minaret among all of Fez's madrasas, this square brick tower rises from the north-western corner of the Bou Inania complex, its crown clad in gleaming green tiles that catch the sunlight.
Lateral Classroom Halls
Two rectangular teaching rooms flank the central courtyard of the Bou Inania Madrasa, accessed through wooden doors directly off the courtyard and clearly distinct from both the prayer hall and students' cells.
Student Cells (Upper Floor)
The student cells line the upper floor of the Bou Inania Madrasa, overlooking the courtyard through narrow windows. Their deliberate austerity stands in stark contrast to the ornate decoration of the communal spaces below.
Mihrab
The mihrab of the Bou Inania Medersa is the niche that indicates the direction of Mecca, located at the far end of the prayer hall. It is richly decorated with carved stucco and serves as the focal point of the liturgical space within the complex.
Dar al-Wudu (Ablutions House)
The ablutions fountain of the Bou Inania Madrasa remains in active use, fed directly by the Oued el-Lemtiyyin — a channel derived from the River Fez — which runs beneath the medina.
Inner Fez River Canal
One of the rare spots in the medina where the Fez River briefly surfaces, fed by the Oued el-Lemtiyyin channel, before returning underground.
- 1.Central Courtyard
- 2.Prayer Hall (Mosque)
- 3.Minaret
- 4.Lateral Classroom Halls
- 5.Student Cells (Upper Floor)
- 6.Mihrab
- 7.Dar al-Wudu (Ablutions House)
- 8.Inner Fez River Canal
Kids audio available
Kids version available with adapted and fun language for the little ones (19 min)
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