Talaa Kebira (Great Slope Street), Fes
Cutting through F猫s el-Bali and stretching all the way down to the Kairaouine Mosque, under various names, Tal芒a Kebira (Big Slope) stands out as the main thoroughfare of the Medina. It's not so much about specific landmarks as it is about the sensory overload you'll experience along the way: signs with camel heads pointing to the local butchers, vendors haggling in the spice and slipper markets, and donkeys hauling their loads up and down the bumpy lanes.
At the western end of the street, you'll find mostly produce markets, butchers, and other food shops. As you move past the Bou Inania Madrasa, the shops become more diverse, catering to both rural visitors and locals. A bit further down, you'll come across a group of fondouks 鈥� just a handful of the 200 or so that used to populate F猫s el-Bali. Originally built around the same time as the madrasa, these were lodging houses for traders and their trusty mules: big two-story buildings with rooms surrounding spacious central courtyards.
Some notable examples include Bousl Hame at No. 49 Talaa Kebira (on the left), now home to an interesting drum workshop, and about 50 meters ahead, Qa芒t Smen (marked on the right), where you'll find a small market for butter and honey (you'll know you're close by the strong smell of smen 鈥� a fancy aged butter used in the best couscous). Just a bit further down (also on the right) is the rundown Fondouk Tazi, with a few pottery stalls and workshops, and a few meters away (on the left) is the mostly abandoned and quite smelly Fondouk Lbbata, piled high with sheepskins being prepared for curing and tanning.
At the western end of the street, you'll find mostly produce markets, butchers, and other food shops. As you move past the Bou Inania Madrasa, the shops become more diverse, catering to both rural visitors and locals. A bit further down, you'll come across a group of fondouks 鈥� just a handful of the 200 or so that used to populate F猫s el-Bali. Originally built around the same time as the madrasa, these were lodging houses for traders and their trusty mules: big two-story buildings with rooms surrounding spacious central courtyards.
Some notable examples include Bousl Hame at No. 49 Talaa Kebira (on the left), now home to an interesting drum workshop, and about 50 meters ahead, Qa芒t Smen (marked on the right), where you'll find a small market for butter and honey (you'll know you're close by the strong smell of smen 鈥� a fancy aged butter used in the best couscous). Just a bit further down (also on the right) is the rundown Fondouk Tazi, with a few pottery stalls and workshops, and a few meters away (on the left) is the mostly abandoned and quite smelly Fondouk Lbbata, piled high with sheepskins being prepared for curing and tanning.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Fes. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Talaa Kebira (Great Slope Street) on Map
Sight Name: Talaa Kebira (Great Slope Street)
Sight Location: Fes, Morocco (See walking tours in Fes)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Fes, Morocco (See walking tours in Fes)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Fes, Morocco
Create Your Own Walk in Fes
Creating your own self-guided walk in Fes is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Fes New Town Walking Tour
Created by the French in the early 20th century, Ville Nouvelle (New Town) is a relatively modern central district of Fez. A far cry from the sensory overload provided by the old Medina, this neighborhood was originally designed to accommodate foreigners and affluent Moroccans only.
Still, Fez's Ville Nouvelle is as much 'real' Morocco as any donkey-packed lane in the old city.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Still, Fez's Ville Nouvelle is as much 'real' Morocco as any donkey-packed lane in the old city.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Fes Old Town Walking Tour
North and west of the fabled Atlas Mountains of North Africa is the ancient city of Fes, or Fez. It is centered on the Fes River.
In the year 789 Idris I founded the city and the Idrisid dynasty. The city was two settlements on either side of the river. In the 11th century, Sultan Yusuf ibn Tashfin established Almoravid rule. He united the settlements into Fes el-Bali. The Almoravids were... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
In the year 789 Idris I founded the city and the Idrisid dynasty. The city was two settlements on either side of the river. In the 11th century, Sultan Yusuf ibn Tashfin established Almoravid rule. He united the settlements into Fes el-Bali. The Almoravids were... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles