Place Nejjarine is a small square in the heart of the labyrinth of alleyways in the old town of Fès el-Bali, surrounded by numerous souks and craft stores. In the center of the square is the Funduq al-Nejjarin, an inn built at the beginning of the 18th century under Sultan Moulay Ismail for merchants and their goods. The Funduq, also known as a caravanserai, served as accommodation, storage and a trading place and was closely connected to the neighboring carpenter souk - hence the name Nejjarin, which means “carpenter”.

The exact date of the historical photo is unknown. However, as some of the men are wearing European-style clothing (e.g. trousers with gaiters), it was probably taken during the French protectorate (from 1912). The Nejjarin building still seems to be used by traders, the entrance gate and the surrounding houses are still unrestored.

In the 1940s, the Funduq was used as a police station. Today it houses the Musée Nejjarine des Arts et Métiers du Bois, an important collection of Moroccan wood art. To the right is the famous Nejjarine Fountain, which used to serve as a public source of drinking water for traders, travelers and animals. It is richly decorated and an outstanding example of Moroccan craftsmanship. It is currently being restored and is therefore unfortunately partially obscured in the new photo.

Today, the old town of Fès is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts numerous tourists. The Place Nejjarine is a popular meeting point for visitors; local artisans continue to offer their products here - as they did back then, but now also for tourists.