Fez is the third largest city in Morocco, after Casablanca, and Rabat with a population of 1 368 000. Fes is one of the four "imperial cities" (as to Marrakech, Meknes and Rabat).

The city « Medina of Fes » was founded on the place of Andalous region, by Idris Ist in 789. In 808, Idris IInd founded “Al-Aliya” on the other bank of the wadi of Fes. The following evolutions are due to two successive waves of emigration: from 817-818, 800 Andalusian families, evicted by Omeyyades of the Spanish city of Cordoue established in the city, founded by Idris I, near of. Shortly after about 2 000 families exiled from Kairouan settled on the other bank. The university mosque "Quaraouiyine" founded in the IXth century became one of the most important spiritual and cultural centers of that epoch.

The two parts of the city are united in the Middle Age, with the destruction of the separation wall. Fes lost its role as a capital with the foundation of Marrakech by the almoravide dynasty in XIe century but taken it again in 1250 thanks to the Merinide dynasty. At the beginning of XIVe century (apogee of art hispano-Moorish), the city knew a strong growth. In 1471, the city got under the rode of the Beni Wattas dynasty.

In 1522, Fez suffers from an earthquake which destroys the city partly. Years after the earthquake, buildings are rebuilt, restored or replaced by the new ones. The dynasty of Saadiens takes the city in 1554. Moulay Abdallah, the successor of Moulay Ismail, makes of Fes its place of residence and makes renovate or build mosques, schools, bridges and streets, the streets of Fes Djedid are paved.

In the XIXe century, the two old parts of the city are connected to new constructions like the palace bouloudjoubou. Until the beginning of protectorate in 1912, Fes is the capital of Morocco. In 1944, the proclamation for independence is written in a house of the old Medina, know today as place of Istiqlal. The city will be the object of riots in the years 1980 and at the beginning of 90.

Today Fes has two parts: Fes Medine consided as UNESCO world-wide patrimony for Morocco; And Fes new city (Dar Dbibegh) which reflects the modernization and the economic development of the country. Thus, it is in this part of Fes that modernity (shopping centres, buildings, hotels 5 stars…) and culture meet.