FÈS - LE BORJ NORD

Numéro d'objet:	23720
Photographe:	Belin, Jean
Date:	1941
Catégorie:	Photographie
Origine:	Fès
Thème:	Panorama

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Le Borj Nord est un fort saadien élevé en 1582 sous le règne du Sultan Ahmed Al Mansour au nord de Fès Al Bali. Inspiré de l'architecture des forteresses portugaises du XVIème siècle, il fut l'un des plus grands postes de surveillance de la ville. De nos jours, le Borj Nord abrite le Musée des armes.

The North Bastion is without a doubt the most prestigious military monument in Fes. Its name "burj al-nûr", which in Arabic means “bastion of light”, appears to be a recent one, derived from the French name “"burj nord" (north burj) given on account of its location to the north of the former medina of Fes. Classical sources make no mention of this name, referring only to the "burj" or "basâtîn" the plural of which, "bastiûn", comes from the Latin "bastion". Judeo-Moroccan texts refer to the bastion as "burj al-nâr" (bastion of fire): and this name is indeed highly indicative of the nature of the military building, which was designed specifically to bear cannons of varying calibre.
It was built during the late 16th century by the saadian sultan Ahmed Al Mansour and was inspired by portugese military constructions.