The Nejjarine Fountain stands in Place Nejjarine, in the Fès el-Bali quarter of Fes, Morocco. It is an ornate fountain dating from the 18th century, and it is also known as the Nejjarine Square Fountain.
What draws visitors is its decoration. The fountain is covered in intricate zellige tilework and carved plaster, two of the defining crafts of Moroccan decorative arts. Up close, the patterns reward a slow look, and the fountain makes a good example of how these traditions were applied to a public structure.
Why visit
- It is a well-preserved piece of 18th-century decorative art in the heart of the medina.
- It gives a clear view of zellige and carved plaster work, useful if you are interested in Moroccan craft.
- It sits in a busy, lived-in part of the old city, so a stop here is easy to combine with a walk through the surrounding streets.
Around the fountain
The square lies within Fès el-Bali, the old walled medina, where narrow lanes, markets and historic buildings make up much of the experience. Visitors often come to the fountain while exploring on foot, and it works well as a pause in a longer walk through the quarter. Going slowly, and looking at the tiles and plasterwork as you pass, is the best way to take it in.
