Médersa Al-Attarine

Built between 1323 and 1325 by the Marinid sultan Abu Said Uthman, the Al-Attarine Medersa stands at the entrance to the perfume and spice market — the Attarine quarter that gives it its name — directly facing the University of Al Quaraouiyine. Originally designed to house around sixty students attending the neighboring mosque, it remained in use until the early 20th century.

Despite its modest size, dictated by the narrowness of the plot, it is unanimously considered the most richly decorated medersa in Fès: carved arabesque stucco, painted Arabic calligraphy, geometric zellige mosaics, and a finely worked cedar wood ceiling all echo one another around the central courtyard and its marble fountain. The constraints of the site also imposed an unusual layout — the prayer hall's mihrab sits on the south wall rather than along the axis typical of Marinid medersas.

It is part of the ensemble of monuments that make up the medina of Fès, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.