Dar Ba Mohammed Chergui

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The courtyard of the main house (photo from 2006)

Dar Ba Mohammed Chergui, also known as Dar al-Aman,[1] is a historic palace or riad-style mansion in the old medina of Fez, Morocco. It is located on Derb el Horra street in Fes el-Bali.[2]

History and state of preservation[]

The house was constructed over 15 years in the early 20th century and is named after the former qa'id (judge) Ba Mohammed Chergui who lived here.[2][3] In her book on Islamic gardens, D. Fairchild Ruggles also identifies the palace as that of Pasha 'Abd al-Kari and states that it was built instead in 1860.[1]

In 2008 the palace was purchased by international private investors following a long negotiation process with around 60 inheritors of the house. The intention of the purchase was to convert the palace into a five-star hotel.[2][3][4] Some observers report that the palace is currently in a dilapidated state and not accessible to visitors.[5][6]

Description[]

The palace is among the most impressive historic houses in the city, along with examples like Dar Moqri, Dar Glaoui, and Dar Adiyel.[7][5] It consists of two main houses next to each other,[5] together covering some 1800 square meters.[2] The main house (dar kbira) consists of a central courtyard paved and decorated with marble and zellij tiling, around which were three ornate halls with cupola ceilings as well as a large and ornate wall fountain. The second house, covering about 650 square meters,[2] includes a large courtyard garden with a unique arrangement of star-shaped and cross-shaped planters and three fountains, all covered with zellij, and a surrounding portico or gallery.[2][4][8]

  • The courtyard garden, as it appeared in 2006

  • One of the richly-decorated halls (2018)

  • Details of the interior decoration (2006)

  • A decorative alcove inside one of the halls (2018)

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Ruggles, D. Fairchild (2008). Islamic Gardens and Landscapes. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 161. ISBN 9780812207286.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Fès: Dar Ba Mohamed Chergui devient un palais d'hôtes". L'Economiste (in French). 2008-11-12. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Istasse, Manon (2019). Living in a World Heritage Site: Ethnography of Houses and Daily Life in the Fez Medina. Springer. pp. 181, 212. ISBN 9783030174514.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "THE VIEW FROM FEZ: Going, going, gone!". THE VIEW FROM FEZ. 2008-11-19. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Fès et le Moyen-Atlas - Algilà Fez Medina Charme Hôtel". Algilà (in French). Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  6. ^ "Visit Fez, nicest gardens in Fez". www.visit-fez.com. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  7. ^ "Fes – Riad Karim in Fez Medina". Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  8. ^ Gaudio, Attilio (1982). Fès: Joyau de la civilisation islamique. Paris: Les Presse de l'UNESCO: Nouvelles Éditions Latines. p. 212. ISBN 2723301591.

Coordinates: 34°03′48.2″N 4°58′48.4″W / 34.063389°N 4.980111°W / 34.063389; -4.980111

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