Royal Palace Gates (Dar el-Makhzen)

The Royal Palace Gates, the entrance to Dar el-Makhzen, face Place des Alaouites in Fes el-Jdid, in Morocco's Fès-Meknès region. The compound is a working royal palace and its interior is closed to the public, so the visit is about the exterior. Seven large doors of brass and tile open onto the plaza, with carved cedar lintels and mosaic surrounds that are among the most photographed details in Fes. The brass is polished and catches the sun, and the geometric tilework around the doors shows the craftsmanship of the Alaouite era. A visit takes 15 to 20 minutes, and most people pair it with a walk through the Grand Rue of Fes el-Jdid and the Mellah, which lie close by. The plaza is reached by petit taxi, or on foot in about 20 minutes from Bab Bou Jeloud. Morning is the best time, when the sun lights the brass and few other visitors are around. Tour groups tend to arrive in the middle of the day. Photography of the doors is a popular stop, but photographing guards or inside the gate is not permitted, and visitors should follow the instructions of any security staff. Dress modestly and behave respectfully, since the site remains in use by the royal household. Souvenir sellers and unofficial guides sometimes approach visitors on the plaza, and polite refusal is normal. There is no charge to view the gates, and there are no facilities on the plaza, so cafes in the Grand Rue are the nearest place to sit. The paving is level, which makes it an easy stop.