Walls of Fes el-Bali, Fes

Similar to other ancient city walls, the ramparts of Fes served dual purposes of defense and control. Spanning five miles (8 kilometers), they shielded the city from invaders and regulated entry of outsiders. City gates were typically shut and secured at night, restricting late-hour access. Moreover, the walls and gates managed the movement of the city's inhabitants, allowing authorities to detain individuals if necessary. A significant aspect of their control function was managing the flow of goods and ensuring proper taxation, facilitating revenue collection for the authorities, given that all major markets were situated within the city. Symbolically, too, the walls delineated the urban boundaries, establishing the framework for specific rules and regulations within.

With the introduction of gunpowder, the medieval walls lost some of their military relevance against external armies. Nevertheless, they remained largely unchanged over the centuries, as Fes, being an inland city, faced minimal threats from artillery-equipped forces compared to coastal cities like those along the Atlantic, frequently targeted by Portuguese and Spanish incursions. Fes was only briefly occupied by foreign forces once: the Ottomans held it in 1554 for less than a year before it was recaptured by Moroccan Saadis. The Saadis later erected fortifications engineered to withstand gunpowder technology, yet their primary purpose appears to have been enforcing control over the frequently rebellious city. Conversely, local Bedouin or other rural raiders seldom possessed artillery, rendering the existing walls adequate for defense against them.

The city's major cemeteries, such as Bab Mahrouk, Bab Ftouh, and Bab Guissa, are situated just beyond the main gates.