Al Batha Museum reopens in Fès after restoration, showcasing Islamic art and Morocco's cultural heritage

The Al Batha Museum of Islamic Arts in Fès reopened its doors on Wednesday following extensive restoration efforts launched in 2019 under the initiative of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. This project forms part of a broader endeavor to rehabilitate and enhance the historic medina of Fès.

The inauguration ceremony welcomed prominent figures, including Mehdi Qotbi, president of the National Foundation of Museums; Mouaad Jamai, Wali of the Fès-Meknès region; Abdelouahed El Ansari, president of the Fès-Meknès Regional Council; and Mustapha Bousmina, president of the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fès, among other notable personalities. The Al Batha Museum is one of Morocco's oldest and most prestigious cultural institutions.

To mark the occasion, an exhibition was unveiled, providing visitors with a journey through Morocco’s history, from the 8th century to the present day. The display highlights significant dynastic transitions and key moments in the nation’s history.

Mehdi Qotbi hailed the museum as “exceptional” and “fascinating,” emphasizing its pivotal role in enriching Morocco’s cultural and tourist offerings, particularly in Fès, a city celebrated globally for its historical heritage. He noted that the museum reflects an image of Islam rooted in tolerance and coexistence, showcasing the harmonious relationships between Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities in Morocco.

Qotbi further underscored Morocco’s status as a beacon of interfaith respect and coexistence in a world fraught with misunderstanding and division.

Abdelaziz Idrissi, head of the museums department at the National Foundation of Museums and curator of the inaugural exhibition, described the museum as a landmark achievement. Spanning 7,500 square meters, the restored museum offers a meticulously curated exploration of Moroccan cultural richness through a structured historical and thematic display.

Idrissi highlighted the immense value of the museum’s collection, which is being publicly exhibited for the first time. Among the featured artifacts are manuscripts documenting Morocco’s history of writing and the evolution of Arabic calligraphy, as well as significant objects like the "Adouate Al Andalous" minbar, one of the few of its kind in the Islamic world. The exhibition also underscores Morocco's intellectual and cultural contributions to the medieval world.

The museum’s collection spans various eras of Moroccan history, from the pre-Islamic period to the Alaouite dynasty. It also explores themes related to Moroccan lifestyles and cultural identities. A dedicated section highlights the city of Fès, showcasing its historical significance and its role in advancing knowledge and cultural exchange over the centuries.

Museum curator Alaa Fechtali stressed that the restoration process was overseen by the National Foundation of Museums and the Agency for the Development and Rehabilitation of Fès, with care taken to preserve the site’s architectural and historical authenticity.

Fechtali also recounted the museum’s origins as a palace built between 1873 and 1894 during the reign of Sultan Moulay Hassan I, intended as a summer residence and reception venue for dignitaries. Its completion and embellishment were finalized by Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz in 1897.

The reopening ceremony was attended by several distinguished cultural figures, including Nobel Prize-winning physicists Alain Aspect and Serge Haroche.

Serge Haroche, who was born in Morocco, expressed his joy at visiting the museum and praised its exhibition for shedding light on Morocco’s historical ties with Spain and Portugal. He highlighted the museum as a unique opportunity to explore cultural exchanges between pre-Islamic and Islamic civilizations, and he commended Morocco as a rare example of interfaith coexistence and tolerance.

Alain Aspect also shared his admiration for the museum, applauding the expertise of its curators and the cultural treasures on display. He emphasized his appreciation for Morocco’s forward-thinking cultural vision, embodied by this remarkable institution.