The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) listed the ancient medina of Fez as a World Heritage Site due to the city’s historic monuments in 1981.
This Saturday, the majestic city of Fez, true guardian of Moroccan heritage, celebrates the 15th edition of its Annual Day. This unmissable event, proclaimed in January 2011, pays tribute to the millennial heritage of the spiritual capital of the Kingdom and the influence of its founders. The festivities, launched on January 4, will continue until January 11, offering a week full of events. This edition focuses on the history and culture of a city which has spanned the ages and which continues to shine with its exceptional heritage.
Celebrations this year focus on the founding role of Caliph Idris II, who in 808 laid the first stones of what would become Fez, a center of learning, culture and spirituality. The spirit of the city is embodied today in a varied and thoughtful program, where history, present and future meet to celebrate the greatness of Fez.
Under the theme “Together for Fez: history of the past, evaluation of the present and anticipation of the future”, the Yawm Fez Foundation is orchestrating a series of events aimed at highlighting the city’s developments and its sustainable development. One of the key moments will be a high-level conference devoted to “Sustainable Development Challenges”, bringing together representatives of the signatory institutions of the Fez Day Declaration. This debate will offer the opportunity to reflect on the transformations underway in the city and the ways to ensure environmentally friendly development, faithful to the spirit of heritage while embracing the needs of modernity.
The city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, continues to renew its commitment to preserving its heritage while integrating contemporary innovations. Thus, a particular part of the 2025 edition will be devoted to an exhibition on innovation serving Fez and its region. Hosted by Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, this exhibition will look at the fields of architecture, art and traditional crafts, at the heart of the city’s modernization without sacrificing its identity.
This year’s rich and diverse program also highlights the artisanal heritage of Fez, an art that has endured through the centuries. The exhibition dedicated to this local craft will present exceptional works of ceramics, textiles and leather goods, testifying to the skill and creativity of local artisans. These productions, which have made the city famous, are a living reflection of its past and its future.
This year’s celebrations do not stop at the cultural aspect. They also include highlighting projects to revitalize the historic sites of Fez, including the ambitious program to restore 27 monuments and historic sites. These projects are part of a broader framework of preservation and sustainable development, a major challenge for a city which combines its heritage with its contemporary dynamism.
Beyond the festivities, this Annual Day is intended to be a reminder of the importance of Fez on the national and international scene. More than a simple commemoration, it embodies the desire to unite the past and the future, through initiatives that demonstrate the city’s commitment to its history, its heritage and its development. A vibrant tribute to an eternal city, which, each year, reinvents itself while honoring its past.
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