Gallery
Description
Property Name: Al Attarine Madrasa
Inventory No: 212-5-3
Date of infill of the inventory form: 2007-10-24
Country (State party): Morocco
Province: Fez
Town:
Geographic coordinates: 34° 3′ 45″ N
4° 58′ 30″ W
Historic Period: 13th century, 1st half
Year of Construction: 1325
Style: Marinid
Original Use: Madrasa
Current Use: Museum
Architect: Unknown
Significance
Attarin Madrasa, enriched with the charming combination of small and large arches, wooden pillars, decorative stucco and mosaic-tiles, is the most elegant and impressive madrasa in Fez.
Selection Criteria
ii. to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design
iii. to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared
vi. to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance
State of Preservation
It was built by the Marinid sultan Uthman II Abu Said (r. 1310-1331) in 1323-5. The madrasa takes its name from the Souk al-Attarine, the spice and perfume market.
Had restorations in recent history, it is now good condition and open to visit.
References
Grube, Ernst J. Architecture of the Islamic world: its history and social meaning: with a complete survey of key monuments and 758 illustrations, edited by George Michell, Thames and Hudson, London, 2002.
Hattstein M., Delius, P. (Ed.), Islam: Art and Architecture; Köln, Könemann, 2000.
Archnet Web Site: http://archnet.org/