Around Fez
Fez is the most important city in the Fez-Meknes region (Mequinenza), one of Morocco’s 12 regions. Over four million people live in this area, and it’s been calculated that over 1.2 million live in Fez alone. It’s an area rich in nature, history and monuments.
These can all be appreciated in Meknes, which is 60 km from Fez and can easily be reached by both car and train. Meknes is one of Morocco’s four imperial cities and its medina is one of the most authentic in the country. Make sure you visit the city walls and elaborately decorated Al Mansour Gate, which is next to lively El Hedim Square. And don’t miss Madrasa Bou Inania (like in Fez) and, outside the city walls, the impressive Mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail.
Ifrane is a similar distance away, this time to the north, and is known by many as Morocco’s “Little Switzerland”. Nestling in the Middle Atlas Mountains, it looks like an alpine city and was founded by the French authorities during the period of the French Protectorate. The French built it for their own enjoyment and for use by military leaders who wanted a place to relax and escape from the scorching hot summers across the rest of Morocco. Impressive Azrou Cedar Forest is close by (and around 80 km from Fez); it’s populated by a large colony of wild macaques who are used to the presence of humans. Some of the trees in this forest are 40 m high.
And one of the few centres for winter sports in Morocco is also nearby, set inside a volcanic crater at an altitude of around 2,000 m: Mischliffen ski resort has five ski runs of different lengths and difficulty levels.
If you like art and delving into history, don’t miss the archaeological complex of Volubilis. It’s 80 km east of Fez (about 1 1/2 hrs by car) and is one of the most valuable Roman sites in Morocco. The city was founded in the 3rd century BC and reached its zenith in the 1st century AD during the reign of the emperor Augustus. Take a stroll around the forum and admire the beauty and harmony of the Triumphal Arch, the ancient Roman baths, the Temple of Jupiter and the many detailed mosaics that decorate the private residences.
Finally, the holy city of Moulay Idriss is just 4 km away from Volubilis. Idris I was the grandson of Muhammed and the founder of Morocco, according to Muslim tradition. Moulay Idriss is a white village set upon a hill (with clear parallels to towns in southern Andalusia) and is notable for the zawiya and sanctuary of Idris I, which was built in the 18th century and thoroughly restored in the 20th century by the grandfather and father (Mohammed V and Hassan II) of the current Moroccan king. Although non-Muslims aren’t allowed to enter, its cylindrical minaret covered in green tiles with Islamic inscriptions is impressively eye-catching.