Al Batha Museum of Islamic Arts, Fez

A royal palace transformed into a national museum

The Al Batha Museum of Islamic Arts occupies a former royal palace built in the late nineteenth century near Bab Boujloud. Following a major restoration and reinterpretation project, it reopened in February 2025 under the responsibility of Morocco’s National Museums Foundation. The work restored clarity to the palace, its Andalusian garden and collections that are central to understanding the artistic history of Fez.

The museum does not present Islamic art as an isolated category. Its displays connect objects to the practices, technologies and communities that shaped the city: religious learning and calligraphy, domestic architecture, carved wood, weaving, metalwork and ceramic production.

Manuscripts, textiles and the craftsmanship of Fez

Collections include Qur’anic manuscripts, architectural woodwork, ceramics, textiles, carpets, embroidery, coins and metal objects. They reveal the precision of geometric, vegetal and calligraphic decoration while tracing the changing forms and uses of objects across dynasties and through exchange with al-Andalus, the Maghreb and other parts of the Islamic world.

The celebrated blue ceramics of Fez have a prominent place, alongside objects connected to daily life, dress and scholarly culture. The museum therefore links the monuments of the medina to the workshops, materials and gestures through which they were made.

The garden and the experience of the palace

The central Andalusian garden is an integral part of the visit. It structures movement between the palace wings and recalls the role of water, shade and planting in residential architecture. This dialogue between collection and historic setting distinguishes Al Batha from a conventional museum gallery.

Continue to the Nejjarine Museum, the Borj Nord Arms Museum and other cultural places in Fez. The Fez cultural guide connects museums, creative centres and current programming.

Planning a visit

The National Museums Foundation generally lists opening hours from 10 am to 6 pm, with the museum closed on Tuesdays. Hours, admission fees and free-entry arrangements can change, so check the official museum page before travelling.

Address: 5 Place Batha, Oued Fejjaline, Fez
Telephone: +212 5 30 67 60 81