Fes Dar Batha Museum, Part of Massive Historic Medina Renovation

Dar Batha, Museum, Fes

King Mohammed VI resting on his laurels has a grand vision to preserve the national heritage of Morocco. Part of the vision of M6 is to renovate and raise global awareness for the UNESCO World Heritage Fes Medina; the first Moroccan site to be inscribed in 1981. One of the projects in the King’s “Medina of Fes 2018-2023″ is to reopen the Dar Batha Museum. The former 19th-century Andalusian-style summer palace was commissioned by Alaouite Sultan Hassan I and his successor Abdelaziz. In 1961, it was transformed into a museum housing 6,000 traditional Moroccan arts and crafts.

Part of the vision of M6 is to renovate and raise global awareness for the UNESCO World Heritage Fes medina.

In July 2018, the President of the National Foundation of Moroccan Museums (FNM) Mehdi Qotbi said restoring Fes’ cultural institutions is important because Fes represents the “memory of Morocco. “Together, the Medina of Fes 2018-2023 vision will receive an investment of MAD 583 million for renovating and building 32 historical sites that include foundouks, mosques, Quranic schools, public spaces, facilities, and handicraft sites.

The Fes medina also received funding from Morocco’s Minister of the Interior Abdelouafi Laftit, who allocated a national MAD 2.35 billion budget in 2018 for renovation projects. Forty percent of this budget comes from The Hassan II Fund for Economic and Social Development. Already completed projects in Fes include the Lalla Yeddouna handicraft complex (MAD 333 million), Foundouk Staouniyine (MAD 50 million), Hammam Seffarine (MAD 9.6 million, ) Lalla Yeddouna Heritage and Information Center of Fez (MAD 500,000)