Medina of Fez
Factors affecting the property in 1996*
- Deliberate destruction of heritage
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Housing
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Deliberate destruction of heritage
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Housing
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1996
Total amount approved : 38,500 USD
| 1994 | Organization of a meeting in Fez (16-22 January 1995) (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 1988 | Photogrammetric survey of the hydraulic clock in Fez (Approved) | 18,500 USD |
Missions to the property until 1996**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1996
By letter of 22 December 1995, the Centre transmitted to the Moroccan authorities the Committee's concerns with regard to the threatened projects for automobile traffic through the Medina of Fez and the demolition already carried out in the Ain Azliten quarter, and requested them to provide information on measures undertaken.
By letter of 22 February 1996, the Permanent Delegation of Morocco transmitted to the Centre a copy of a letter dated 15 February from Mr Abdallah Azmani, Minister of Cultural Affairs, informing that the central government authorities, as well as the provincial and local authorities, had been contacted with regard to the position of the Committee, "to ensure that the principles for preservation as defined by the World Heritage Convention be respected". By letter of 28 March, the Director of Cultural Heritage of Morocco transmitted to the Centre a report confirming the desire of the national authorities to preserve the site, and indicating that the present orientations for access to the Medina are completely modified and no longer reflect the initial road projects.
Action Required
After having been informed by the Secretariat of the measures undertaken by the Minister of Cultural Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco to ensure the safeguarding of the Medina of Fez against the threatening automobile circulation project, the Bureau expressed its warm thanks to the national authorities of Morocco and to their Cultural Heritage Directorate, and recommended that they continue to be vigilant with regard to any new project of this kind, and that economic development projects envisaged with assistance from The World Bank continue to be carefully evaluated with regard to the preservation of the cultural values of the site in all their aspects.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1996
20 BUR IV.7
Medina of Fez (Morocco)
After having been informed by the Secretariat of the measures undertaken by the Minister of Cultural Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco to ensure the safeguarding of the Medina of Fez against the threatening automobile circulation project, the Bureau expressed its warm thanks to the national authorities of Morocco and to their Cultural Heritage Directorate, and recommended that they continue to be vigilant with regard to any new project of this kind, and that economic development projects envisaged with assistance from The World Bank for the rehabilitation of the Medina continue to be carefully evaluated with regard to the preservation of the cultural values of the site in all their aspects.
Morocco
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
