Special Events

Side events during the summer school:

• 11th edition of Ifrane’s Astronomy Festival (a week full of astronomy related activities: public conferences, exhibitions, competitions, workshops, planetarium, sky nights, etc..)

• Official ceremony of the astronomy festival of Ifrane (recognition/prizes ceremony)

• Visit to the nearby Cedar forest, Atlas monkeys near Arz Gouraud, and the nearby berber city Azrou (17 km).

• Visit to Al Akhawayn Observatory and Gala Dinner at the university faculty club

Summer School Trips

• All Day trip to one of the oldest cities in the world, FEZ (12 centuries old) 

• Half Day trip to Volubilis (Morocco's best-preserved Roman ruins) and the imperial city Meknes

Brief Information about the summer school trips

Half Day trip to FEZ 

Fez, about 60 km far from Ifrane, is the holiest and imperial city in the Islamic world after Mecca and Medina. Founded at the beginning of the 9th century by Moulay Idriss II. Fez is the best surviving example of an ancient Arab city, Fez is comprised of a new city, established in the 12th century, and the unchanged 2,000-year-old medina. 

Tour Fez el-Bali (Fez the Old) and its medieval medina (old town), a UNESCO world heritage site crammed with narrow, winding streets, where donkeys laden with goods trawl alongside buyers through the ancient market.

A fascinating maze of lanes, blind alleys, bustling souks, and artisan workshops, the atmosphere assaults the senses with fragrant spices, exotic delicacies, brightly colored carpets, and fine handmade goods bursting from endless stalls. Visit centuries-old mosques and universities, see the multi-colored vats of the open-air tanneries, tour the ceramic workshops that create prized Moroccan mosaics, and shop for traditional goods made from copper, ceramics, and leather.

Half Day trip to Volubilis, Moulay Idriss Zerhoun and Meknes

Start your day with a pickup from your Ifrane accommodation.

Visit Volubilis, an areas consisting of impressive and well-preserved Roman ruins, not to mention spectacular mosaics.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most important Roman sites in North Africa.

Travel through the holy city of Moulay Idriss, perched dramatically against the slope of Mount Zerhon, and immerse yourself in the dramatic landscape of Morocco.

 Then, head out to explore the ancient imperial city of Meknes, known as the “Versailles of Morocco”. At its peak of glory, Meknes had over 50 palaces, 20 doors, and a city wall that measured around 45km. 

See historical sites such as the impressive ramparts, monumental gates, and the Mausoleum Moulay Ismail.