How to Visit Chouara Tannery in Fes, Morocco
Are you planning to visit Chouara Tannery? It is one of the oldest tanneries in the world and the most visited attraction in Fes, so you should add it to your Morocco Itinerary. There are three leather tanneries in Fes, of which the Chouara Tannery is the largest and most famous.
This ultimate guide to visiting the Chouara Tanneries includes the best time to visit, how to get there, the best photo spots, and practical information.
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Best Time to Visit Fes
Morocco is a popular destination all year round! But the best time to visit Fes is spring (mid-March to May) and autumn (September to November). The weather is sunny and dry during these months, perfect for sightseeing and exploring the nearby attractions.
Fes has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The average annual temperature in Fes is 18°C. When we visited in March, the weather was quite cool, and it rained one day, so bring a light jacket and jeans!
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In high season, we strongly recommend booking accommodation and tours in advance!
Recommended post → Ultimate Morocco Itinerary
How to Get to Fes
You can easily get to Fes by train, bus, taxi, car, plane, or private transfer. Most people come to Fes from Chefchaouen, Casablanca, Rabat, or Marrakech. The distance between Chefchaouen and Fes is about 195 km, which is 3.5-5 hours, depending on traffic and mode of transport.
We have a detailed post on how to get from Chefchaouen to Fes with all the information you need.
The city is well connected to other parts of the country if you want to travel by public transport. Alternatively, you can get from Marrakech to Fes on a 3-day Sahara desert tour.
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Use Bookaway to book bus/train tickets or transfers in Morocco.
How to Get to Chouara Tannery
The Chouara Tannery is located inside the Medina, near the Oued Fes (Fes River). The Medina of Fes was founded in the 9th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The tannery is not easy to find, as you can quickly get lost in the narrow streets. It takes about 20-25 minutes to walk from Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate) to the tannery. Just follow the way to Fes el Bali (the oldest part of the city), near the Saffarin Madrasa.
We recommend you use a map on your phone, follow the signs on the walls, or ask the locals for directions (but don’t pay anyone).
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Before or after your visit to the tannery, explore the copper market.
Recommended post → Things to Do in Fes
Chouara Tanneries Fes
The tannery in Morocco is a facility where animal hides and skins are transformed into leather. This process involves cleaning, chemical treatment, drying the hides, and then dying them. The stone vessels are filled with different chemicals and colors. The finished leather is used to make clothes, bags, shoes, furniture, etc.
Moroccan leather can be made from the skins of camels, cows, sheep, or goats. The hides are first cleaned and softened in the white stone vessels using a mixture of quicklime, cow urine, pigeon poop, salt, and water. The mixture is used to prevent skin from decomposing and to help soften the skin and prepare it for dye absorption.
Did you know that the techniques used to cure and dye the leather are the same today as they were 1000 years ago? The entire Moroccan leather production process requires only manual labor. In the tannery, leather is dyed in large clay pots filled with dye.
They only use natural dyes, such as the red from poppy flower, the blue from indigo, the orange from henna, etc. The yellow color comes from saffron, which is the most expensive, so the hides are dyed by hand.
The dyes are poured into the stone vessels, then the workers climb in and use their feet to spread the dye evenly, essentially “massaging it in”. After dyeing, the leather is hung around the tannery to dry in the sun. Then, they are sent directly to the workshops of artisans who use them to create shoes, bags, and other products.
How to Visit Chouara Tannery
Although this is one of the most visited attractions in Fes, you don’t have to arrive early to avoid the crowds. Because visitors do not stay long on the roof terraces due to the unbearable smell. The tannery is usually open daily from 8 AM to 7 PM. The Chouara Tannery is free to visit.
The tannery is surrounded by blocks of flats with leather shops, some with roof terraces offering a fantastic view of the tannery. In fact, the rooftop terraces are free to visit, but if you don’t buy any leather goods, you should give a small tip to the seller.
If you’re looking for the best photo spot, go to the Number 10 roof terrace, but Number 64 is also a good alternative.
Some local men will try to show you the best photo spot for free, but this is a tourist scam. So discuss and agree on a fixed price with them before you visit the tannery’s work area!
We paid 20 MAD (2 USD) to go directly to the tannery. We do not recommend paying more than 50 MAD (5 USD).
It was a fantastic experience to visit the tannery, so don’t miss it on your visit to Morocco.
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Book a Fes Medina guided walking tour via Viator or GetYourGuide.
Chouara Tannery Shopping
Wondering where to shop in Morocco? Fes is the best place to buy Moroccan leather bags, wallets, Moorish slippers, boots, sandals, jackets, poufs, shoes, and belts.
The leather made here is of high quality, beautiful and affordable. The most frequently purchased products in Fes are leather goods and carpets. The leather goods are available in different colors, sizes, and styles. Don’t forget to bargain!
Politely decline to purchase leather goods if you do not want to buy them.
See also → What to Do in Chefchaouen
Chouara Tannery Smell
You’ll experience the smell of sweat, urine, poop, and leather mixing in the tannery. The most intense odors are directly in the tannery work area. But you can smell this strong odor even on the roof terraces.
Many people say that the smell is disgusting and intolerable. But we think you can tolerate the smell for a short visit and enjoy the unique view of the colorful dye vats.
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Accept the sprig of mint given at the entrance, as it will be better to tolerate the smells at the tannery.
Where to Stay in Fes
Fes has some luxury hotels and traditional Moroccan houses (riads), but accommodation options are available for all budgets. These are our recommendations.
Best hotels in Fes
- Luxury: Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace
- Mid-Range: Hotel & Spa Dar Bensouda or Riad Alassala Fes
- Budget: Riad Fes Baraka
We recommend staying in the Medina of Fes, as most attractions will be within walking distance.
Recommended post → 11 Best Riads in Fes
We hope you found our guide to Chouara Tannery useful and will inspire you to visit Fes, Morocco. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.
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13 Best Riads in Fes for All Budgets
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Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM: – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway