Fez, Morocco
Moroccan cultural heritage site
Dar Batha is a former royal palace on the western edge of Fes el-Bali near Bab Boujloud. Sultan Hassan I began it in the late 19th century when he filled the land between the old city and Fes el-Jdid with gardens and palaces, and his son Abdelaziz finished it in 1897 as a summer residence for royal receptions. It became a museum of arts and traditions in 1915 and, after a renovation completed in 2025, is now officially the Al Batha Museum of Islamic Arts. The museum covers about a hectare and holds over 6,000 objects: manuscripts and astrolabes, brass, wood and stucco work, marble, coins, jewellery, costume and textiles, zellij, and above all its famous collection of blue Fez pottery. One of its treasures is the original 10th-century minbar of the Andalusian Mosque. At the heart of the palace is a large Andalusian-style garden with shade trees, a fountain and tiled paths, worth the visit on its own as a calm break from the medina.
Allow an hour to an hour and a half, and do not rush the garden. It is close to Bab Boujloud, so start your medina walk here before the Tala'a Kebira and the Bou Inania. Wikivoyage lists it as closed on Tuesdays. Mornings are quieter.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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AttractionFez, Morocco
