Bab Smarine (Gate of the Farriers), Fes

The ruling Marinid sultans of Fes did not trust the local residents of the old city, Fes el-Bali. In 1276, when sultan Abu Yusuf Ya'qub built Fes el-Jdid to be his royal city he made sure it was to be well fortified. The walls facing the old city were double walls. Where there is a wall there has to be a gate. Sultan Yusuf's gate was Bab Smarine.

The name Bab Smarine means "Gate of the Farriers." It so happened farrier's shops for good hoofkeeping were conveniently located near the gate. Bab Smarine was initially the southern entrance to the city. In time the Jewish quarter (the "Mellah") occupied the southside and the gate ended within the city walls.

As a defensive feature, the gate at first had a bent entrance. During the French occupation the inner walls were opened up. Today the gate has a double archway entrance adjusted to accept motor traffic. The outer facade is adorned with blind polylobed arches and the Moroccan motifs called darj-wa-ktaf within a rectangular border.

The original entrance is flanked by defensive towers. Inside the passage is a side door which once gave access to the royal palace. The gate leads to the Grande Rue ("Great Street"). The street once led to the main market and the Royal Palace. Now residential buildings have replaced the market, grain silos and warehouses.