Think of Morocco and Marrakech will probably be one of the first places that come to mind - it is the country’s largest city, after all. Yet in many respects Marrakech is not the cultural or spiritual centre of the country.

In some people’s eyes, that mantle actually belongs to Fez, Morocco’s oldest imperial city. It is a fascinating, mysterious town brimming with remarkable architecture and atmosphere.

Perhaps the one thing missing until recently had been authentic places to stay that were its equal in terms of character and mood. Well, that’s all changed now. Just witness the Riad Al Bartal, a magical place which for all the tranquillity it affords is still only one block from the main entrance to the Medina - which, by the way, is considered to be the most genuine in the Arab world and a UNESCO world heritage site. So there’s the first plus point of the Riad Al Bartal – the location.

The second will become immediately apparent as you step inside the front door. The outside might not seem like much but, like a Tardis, a whole new world of fresh, characteristic Moroccan lines opens up before your very eyes, so just sit back and take in the rays of light through the balusters and the inner patios marble flooring, columns and Moroccan paintings. Then there are the seven large rooms, beaming with polished marble, delicious scents of cedar, red and gold of lacquered woods, all inviting you to rest, relax and let things go. Decoration almost seems to come out of a magazine – simply top notch.

Thanks to all this good taste and attention to detail goes to Mireille and Christian, and here, we come to our third plus point. Not only do Mireille and Christian have an eye for the beautiful, this lovely French couple are also extremely welcoming and friendly.

The Riad Al Bartal is their home after all, and not some antiseptic hotel chain . Nothing is too much for them and with their all-inclusive knowledge of the city they will help you get the most out of Fez and its unique environment. If it all gets too much for you then may we suggest taking a drink or breakfast on the terrace, which brings us to our fourth plus point. Just look at those views! Need we say more?

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