Borj Nord Fes

The Borj Nord was built in 1582 by the Saadian sultan Ahmad al-Mansur as one of a pair of forts commanding the city from the ridges on either side - part of a policy of holding Fes from outside rather than trusting it from within, which is worth knowing when looking at where it points. It is a compact square fort with bastions, and since the 1960s it has held the arms museum: a very large collection of weapons, several thousand pieces, from prehistoric stone tools through Moroccan and Ottoman firearms, swords, armour and cannon, including a five-metre bronze piece said to have been used at the battle of the Three Kings in 1578. The collection is comprehensive rather than well presented and the labelling is thin. The terrace outside gives the medina spread out below, which is the same view as from the Merinid tombs a few hundred metres along the ridge and safer.

What you actually see

• A 1582 Saadian fort - built to command the city from the ridge above it.
• A large arms collection - several thousand pieces from stone tools to Ottoman firearms.
• A five-metre bronze cannon - associated with the battle of the Three Kings in 1578.
• The medina below - the same panorama as the Merinid tombs, from a supervised site.

When to go

October to April. Two hours.

Honest expectations

Labelling is thin and mostly Arabic and French - the collection is comprehensive but poorly explained. Entry is charged. It is a taxi ride up the hill. Photography inside is restricted.

Nearby

The Merinid tombs are along the ridge; Bab Guissa and the medina are below.