Séfrou

Séfrou sits 28km south of Fes at the foot of the Middle Atlas, where the Aggaï river tumbles through a narrow gorge before spreading into the Saïss plain. One of Morocco's oldest continuously inhabited cities, it was historically the most important Jewish community in the country — the mellah quarter housed over 8,000 Jewish inhabitants in the 19th century. Today Séfrou is a quiet, genuine Moroccan market town with a perfectly preserved medieval medina, spectacular waterfalls in its river gorge, and the famous annual Cherry Festival (Fête des Cerises) each June when the surrounding cherry orchards are in harvest.

Séfrou was founded before the 8th century BC and has been continuously inhabited since. It was an important Jewish trading city long before the Arab conquest — the Berber Jewish community here predates Islam by centuries. The Arab scholar Ibn Battuta passed through in the 14th century, describing it as 'a city of exceptional beauty'. Jewish inhabitants from Spain arrived after the 1492 expulsion, making Séfrou's mellah one of the most significant Jewish centres in North Africa. Most of the Jewish community emigrated to Israel between 1948–1967, leaving a beautifully preserved but melancholy mellah quarter.

The Cherry Festival (Fête des Cerises), held each June since 1920, is Séfrou's defining tradition — the surrounding hills produce Morocco's finest cherries, and the festival crowns a Cherry Queen from the local community. The city's embroidery tradition (Séfrou broderie) uses distinctive blue thread on white linen — a style specific to this city, sold in the medina's craft quarter. The Jewish cemetery above the town is one of the oldest and largest in Morocco, still maintained by the small remaining community.

• ✓Visit on a Thursday — the weekly souk is the best in the region and the medina is at its most alive.
• ✓The Cherry Festival (Fête des Cerises) is held in June — one of Morocco's most authentic and colourful provincial festivals.
• ✓Séfrou is a perfect half-day trip from Fes — take a grand taxi from Bab Ftouh (30 min, 10 DH).
• ✓The river gorge path below the medina is unmarked — ask at the medina entrance for 'la cascade'.
• ✓Accommodation is very limited — most visitors day-trip from Fes.

Grand taxis from Fes (28km, 30 min) depart from Bab Ftouh — the cheapest and most frequent option. CTM buses stop here on the Fes–Midelt route. No train or airport.