Bou Jeloud Mosque 🇲🇦

Located near Bab Bou Jeloud in Fez, Morocco, the historic Bou Jeloud Mosque offers you a captivating glimpse into early Islamic architecture. Founded in the late 12th or early 13th century during the Almohad era by Caliph Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur or Muhammad al-Nasir, this landmark stands as one of the oldest surviving monuments in the city. You will find it perched on a plateau within the former Kasbah of Bou Jeloud, where it served as the citadel's primary Friday mosque.

As you explore the site, you will notice its mostly whitewashed brick construction and generally austere Almohad design, accented by subtle additions from later ruling dynasties. Inside, the mosque features a central square courtyard with a fountain, surrounded by a hypostyle prayer hall filled with elegant horseshoe arches. Take time to admire the unique polylobed arches framing the courtyard corners and the detailed Alawi-era stucco carvings and wooden canopies adorning the entrance portals.

You can also spot the historical minaret, originally built by Marinid ruler Abu Yahya and later heightened in the 19th century, featuring polylobed blind arches around its windows.

What to see at Bou Jeloud Mosque

• One of the few surviving Almohad-era monuments in Fez
• Hypostyle prayer hall with whitewashed brick horseshoe arches
• Square central courtyard featuring a fountain and polylobed corner arches
• Minaret showcasing the first known Marinid foundation inscription
• Entrance portals decorated with Alawi-era stucco carvings and wooden canopies

Visiting tips

Look for the mosque on the plateau within the former Kasbah of Bou Jeloud near Bab Bou Jeloud.

How long: 1 hour · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

Bou Jeloud Mosque is easy to reach on Fes’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Andalusian Mosque and Ibn Danan Synagogue. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Fes travel guide.