Guide On MapFez's Northern Walls and Heights
From Bab Mahrouk through Borj Nord to Bab Guissa
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About the walk
You will leave the medina at Bab Mahrouk and follow the northern wall, then climb to Borj Nord and on to the open hill above Fez. Below, the roofs and narrow lanes will fall away; beside you will be earthen defenses, artillery bastions, a road along the slope, and the open chambers of the Marinid Tombs. The final descent leads to Bab Guissa.
This walk shows Fez from outside and above. Why did the western gate acquire a name in the singular? Why did a sultan need a fortress his townspeople could not reach? How did a military position become part of the city's official sightseeing route? The answers emerge as you climb.
The story will set chronicles against gates, walls, and cannon openings—without ceremonial rhetoric, and with caveats where accounts diverge. By the end, you will be able to explain why the names of two defeated men survived on the northern gates, while a fortress and a royal necropolis stand above them.
Why this order
Bab Mahrouk comes first because the surviving northern line of fortifications begins there, along with the story of a name that remained after its owner's defeat. Next, the wall itself shows that the city could shut its gates against a ruler and withstand a long siege. Borj Nord follows the walls: the fortress was built outside them and higher up, so the townspeople could not defend themselves from it in the same way. From the bastions, the route continues along the northern approaches, where military terrain was later turned into a route for viewing Fez. The climb naturally ends at the Marinid Tombs—on heights tied not to controlling the city, but to burying its rulers. Descending to Bab Guissa brings the route back to the wall and closes it with another old name: the northern arc comes full circle with the story of one more defeated man.
Those who want to see the medina from outside and above Fans of fortresses, city walls, and dynastic history Those interested in precise historical accounts without ceremonial rhetoric
Those who want to stay among markets and craft quarters Those who find uphill walking on an open slope difficult Those who prefer an easy overview without stories of executions and struggles for power
Before you go
Choose sturdy shoes: part of the route follows a path through a cemetery and across an open hill. Bring water and sun protection, as there is little shelter by the walls and tombs. Dress modestly and behave quietly near the graves. Access to the interior exhibition at Borj Nord depends on whether the Museum of Arms is open, so check the conditions separately; the fortress can still be seen from outside and the route can continue on its own.
When to go
Allow time not only for walking, but also for the museum if it is open, stops by the walls, and a leisurely view of the medina from the hill. Soft side light brings out the relief of the fortifications and ruins, and it is worth leaving extra time at the top so the panorama does not turn into a quick photo stop.
Backup plan
If Borj Nord is closed inside, take in the fortress's low, massive outline from outside, compare the direction of its gunports with the medina below, and continue toward the Marinid hill. If the path seems unsafe because of the ground conditions or weather, do not climb to the tombs: finish the walk along the northern wall and reach Bab Guissa by an accessible city passage. Do not try to cut across graves or climb over masonry.
Walk plan
Open in maps ↗- 1
Bab Mahrouk
Here, for the first time, the route shows how a political reprisal became fixed in the city's toponymy. - 2
Northern Walls
The surviving belt of fortifications makes it possible to examine a siege that was ended by negotiations rather than an assault. - 3
Borj Nord — Museum of Arms
The fortress links Fez's defiance with the artillery that the ruler positioned above the city walls. - 4
The Path to the Marinid Tombs
This section explains why the modern approach to the panorama follows former military positions. - 5
Marinid Tombs
At the summit, the route's military history gives way to the fate of a royal cemetery and lost funerary markers. - 6
Bab Guissa
The final gate completes the northern line with the story of a second name that outlived its owner's defeat.
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