Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts and Crafts, a work of art in itself, is a true tribute to the woodworkers who have left such a mark on the cultural heritage of Morocco. Housed in a traditional former inn or caravanserai, it has been restored and was once used by travelling merchants travelling to Fez. Goods were stored and sold on the first floor while the travellers were housed and fed on the upper floors.
The museum’s exhibition rooms are arranged around a central courtyard, where you can see everything from tools used by craftsmen to prayer beads, Berber locks, chests, large doors and musical instruments. A true journey back in time through small masterpieces.
The café located on the rooftop of Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts and Crafts offers stunning views over the rooftops of the old medina of Fez, where you can enjoy a mint tea. Please note, however, that it is advisable to ask permission before taking photographs.
- Nejjarine Museum: history and meaning
- Collections and exhibitions
- Nejjarine Museum highlights
- Practical information
- Where to stay in Fez
Nejjarine Museum: history and meaning
Opened in 1998, Nejjarine Museum has three exhibition floors and is housed in an impressive eighteenth-century inn. During the time of the protectorate, the building became a police station for the French colonial authorities, where those with nationalist sentiment were punished. Since 1916 it has been categorised as a historical monument and was subsequently declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. It is for this reason that it underwent a significant renovation as part of the integral restoration programme of the old medina.
The building where the museum (funduq) is housed was commissioned by Sultan Ismail Ibn Sharif (seventeenth century), although its source dates from the nineteenth century.
There are also other traditional inns or lodges in the Fez el Bali medina that belonged to other artisan guilds. Some of them can be visited, although many of them are in a state of disrepair.
Collections and exhibitions
Nejjarine Museum exhibits mainly collections of objects made from wood that were carved centuries ago by the master craftsmen of Fez, demonstrating their artistic skills. You can see centuries-old traditional objects including tools, furniture, musical instruments, farm implements and even the doors of Bou Inania Medersa are on display here, forming part of the museum’s permanent collection. There are also various thousand-year-old cedar tree stumps.
Nejjarine Museum highlights
The building of Nejjarine Museum, rectangular in plan, is practically symmetrical. It is accessed via a large door, measuring five metres tall and three metres wide, which leads to the vestibule and the central courtyard. The façade boasts elaborate floral and geometric decoration as well as inscriptions in stucco and tiles. The interior courtyard is surrounded by a three-storey gallery where the guest rooms are located under cedar coffered ceilings.
Practical information
Nejjarine Museum is situated on the square of the same name, which means carpenters’ square. Here you will find one of the most beautiful mosaic fountains in the medina as well as small alleyways that lead to Nejjarine souk, where carpenters still to this day chisel, carve and sell their cedar wood items.
Admission costs 20 dirham, which is equivalent to about 2 euros. It is not adapted for people with disabilities. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
And, while you are at Nejjarine Museum, why not take the opportunity to explore the old medina of Fez and put all your senses to the test. You will find alleyways that seem to have no exit but will no doubt take you to unusual, picturesque spots that you will surely want to capture with a photo. You will discover public fountains, street food stalls, craft workshops, donkeys and passages featuring the minarets of mosques. What’s more, you will be able to soak up the hustle and bustle of the life in this urban labyrinth, which still retains the charm of centuries ago.
Where to stay in Fez
If you want to visit Nejjarine Museum during your time in Fez and stay in a hotel where you are assured rest and comfort, we recommend, for its excellent value for money, the hotel Barceló Fès Medina. This very welcoming four-star establishment is situated next to the medina, five minutes from the train station and 20 minutes from Fès-Saïss international airport. It has 134 modern, well-equipped and very comfortable rooms. The hotel has an international restaurant, where you can also enjoy typical Moroccan cuisine and a Jazz Bar serving delicious cocktails. It also has a well-equipped spa for guests to relax with a treatment, sauna or hammam, and a gym. In short, a true oasis to help you feel at home.
