Dar Batha Museum

Dar Batha Museum occupies a Hispano-Moorish palace on Place de l'Istiqlal in the Batha district of Fès, Morocco. The palace was built in the late 19th century under the Alaouite sultan Hassan I and finished under Moulay Abd al-Aziz, and it became a museum of Moroccan arts and crafts in 1915. Its collections concentrate on the artistic heritage of Fès, with galleries arranged by craft rather than strict chronology. The most celebrated section is the display of blue-and-white Fassi pottery, which shows how the city's ceramic style developed over several centuries. Other rooms hold embroidery and textiles, carved and painted wood including doors and ceilings, Quranic manuscripts, metalwork, coins, carpets from the Middle Atlas and scientific instruments such as astrolabes. Part of the wooden minbar from the Andalusian mosque is among the best-known pieces of carved cedar in the collection. The palace itself is part of the exhibition, with zellige panels, carved plaster and cedar ceilings in the main halls, and a courtyard that opens onto an Andalusian garden planted with orange trees, palms and cypress. The curatorial approach is thematic, presenting objects by material and technique, which suits the museum's role as a showcase of Fès craftsmanship. The building has been restored several times, and parts of the museum have closed temporarily for renovation, so visitors should check the current opening status before going. Admission is about 20 MAD, hours are typically 9:00 to 17:00, and it is closed on Tuesdays. A visit takes about 45 minutes to an hour, and the garden provides a quiet space close to Bab Bou Jeloud and the edge of the old medina.