May 17, 2025
The foundouks (funduq) or caravanserais in the Fez medina are probably my favorite thing here. There were a few scattered in Marrakech, but nothing like the woodwork found in the ones here, and there are so many of them.
These were basically used as inns and trading spots. Many of them date from the 14th century, like most of the buildings in Fez's medina. Now many of them are used as skilled artisan shops.
UNESCO has overseen the restoration/refurbishment of a lot of the medina, including the foundouks, so they look pretty newish, but I went to the Islamic Arts Museum today and saw a lot of the original woodwork, and it's all identical.
The 14th century was a BIG time for Fez.
