Morocco Shopping: Fes Leather Tannery and Terrace Merveilles de Cuir

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Morocco Shopping: Fes Leather Tannery and Terrace Merveilles de Cuir

WAVEJourney visits a leather tannery in the Fes Medina in Morocco

Morocco Shopping: Fes Leather Tannery and Terrace Merveilles de Cuir

After more wandering through the Fes Medina we followed our nose towards the world’s oldest leather tanneries, which have remained mostly unchanged since medieval times. As we climbed the narrow and steep stairs of the Merveilles de Cuir leather tannery co-operative, all the way up to the rooftop, the pungent odor coming from the tannery completely filled the air.

Before exiting the stairwell on to the rooftop and moving to the viewing gallery, one of the workers kindly offered us a bunch of mint leaves – which we quickly grabbed and stuffed under our nose to mask the stench. We became thoroughly engrossed watching the tannery workers below going about their work in stone vessels filled with colorful dyes or in the stinking concoction of pigeon poop, urine, acid and animal fat.

Morocco Shopping: Fes Leather Tannery and Terrace Merveilles de Cuir

When we couldn’t stand the smell any longer we ventured back into the leather shop and had the difficult task of deciding what purchases to make here. Did we want a leather bag, purse, jacket, belt, cushion, shoes or slippers? And how many souvenirs and gifts should we take home from the plethora of choices at the tannery co-op? There was so much to choose from, but as we were travelling light we finally decided on souvenirs of traditional Moroccan slippers and coin purses.

Moroccan Leather Slippers

Tips for Shopping for Anything in Morocco:

• Prices are not firm
• The first price is not the final price
• Negotiating is done in good faith and spirit
• It can be a lot of fun to haggle with the locals
• Bargain hard – the seller will walk away from selling if he can’t make money from your offer
• Many times the price you pay should be 20-35% of what the original asking price was
  

  Morocco Shopping: Fes Leather Tannery and Terrace Merveilles de Cuir

After a full morning exploring the Fes Medina we were satiated with Moroccan tea, had made our Moroccan and Berber carpet purchases, and now had new leather slippers and purses as souvenirs. That’s more shopping than we’ve ever done on a trip!

Note: WAVEJourney recommends taking a guided tour of the Fes Medina so as not to get lost.

View WJ’s Fes photos from this trip.

If You Go:
Merveilles de Cuir Terrase de Tannerie
43, Derb Rhorba Gurniz
Fes Medina (facing the Musee Belghazi)
Tel: 05 35 63 91 94
Email: [email protected]

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