His Majesty King Mohammed VI visited, on Wednesday, the restoration site of Bordj Sidi Bounafae, a project that is an integral part of the restoration and rehabilitation program for the historical monuments of the old Medina of Fès, endowed with a total budget of 285.5 million dirhams (MDH). A testament to the Sovereign's constant desire to preserve the historical and civilizational character of this thousand-year-old city, inscribed in 1981 as a World Heritage site by UNESCO, this program focuses on the restoration of 27 historical monuments, including madrasas, bordjs, fondouks, tanneries, ramparts, and bridges.
Fourteen projects of the twenty-seven planned under this four-year program (2013-2016) are currently being implemented. This is the case for the restoration project of Bordj Sidi Bounafae, built by Sultan Ahmed Al Mansour Assaâdi in the year 990 of the Hegira/1550 Gregorian, which will be restored within 12 months for a budget of 10.2 million dirhams. Originally intended to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the city of Fès and protect it against external threats, this small fort will be converted into a museum upon completion of the restoration work.
This pilot project is part of the restoration and rehabilitation program for the historical monuments of the old Medina of Fès, the framework agreement for which was signed on March 4, 2013, under the chairmanship of H.M. King Mohammed VI, between the ministries of the Interior, Habous and Islamic Affairs, Economy and Finance, Housing and Urban Policy, Culture, Handicrafts, the wilaya of the Fès-Boulemane region, the urban commune of Fès, the Mechouar Fès Jdid commune, and the Agency for the Development and Rehabilitation of the city of Fès.
The various actions included in this program should contribute to strengthening tourist circuits in the old Medina of Fès, beautifying the built environment, developing the socio-economic aspects of this museum city, and preserving its material heritage, which reflects the grandeur of a glorious architectural past and the authenticity of unparalleled know-how in the cultural, urban, and social fields.
