Bab Bou Jeloud (Bab Boujeloud)
Fez, Northern Morocco, 30100
Whether you spell it Bab Bou Jeloud, Bab Boujeloud, or Bab Boujloud, you’ll most likely pass through the famous “Blue Gate of Fez” on any visit to Fez Medina. Decorated with fine mosaic tiles, blue on the outside, and green on the inside, the triple-arch gate is less historic than you might think. French colonialists built it in 1913.
The basics
There is no charge to visit the Bab Bou Jeloud. Many travelers visit independently when exploring Fez’s medina (old town), a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a history dating back to the ninth century. Nearby cafés make a great base for people-watching, as residents go about their daily life. Many Fez Medina tours include a stop to admire the gate, along with other landmarks such as Nejjarine Square and Chouara Tannery: Book a walking tour to really soak up the atmosphere.
Things to know before you go
- Bab Bou Jeloud is worth a visit for photographers, Instagrammers, and people-watchers.
- The blue side of the gate represents Fez, specifically its cobalt blue pottery; the green side signifies Islam.
- The Fez Medina presents many challenges for travelers who use wheelchairs, from slopes and steps to cobbles and narrow alleys. Bab Bou Jeloud, however, is accessible by road.
How to get there
The Bab Bou Jeloud sits close to the western corner of Fez Medina, about a 1-mile (1.5-kilometer) walk from Nejjarine Square. Pick up a bus to the old bus station (Gare Routiére Principale), less than 0.5 miles (800 meters) away, or join a tour. Fez is not a city for self-driving.
When to get there
There is life and activity around Bab Bou Jeloud day and night. Visit by day to truly appreciate the mosaic work, or by night to see it illuminated against the medina.
Moroccan Mosaic Work
Known as zellige, Moroccan mosaic work developed during the period when the Moors ruled Andalucia, which is now part of Spain. Craftsmen piece together hand-chiseled, brilliantly colored tiles to create elaborate geometric patterns—without representing humans or animals, as that is forbidden in Islam. The gray clay that made Fez a center for pottery also made the city famous for zellige. Bab Bou Jeloud showcases that skill.
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