1938 Service Géographique du Maroc City Plan or Map of Fes, Morocco

This is a rare 1938 Service géographique du Maroc city plan or map of Fes, Morocco. Published just prior to World War II, the map underscores the transformative impact of 25 years of French colonial influence on the Moroccoan urbanscape. It dramatically illustrates the contrast between the planned French ville nouvelle and the millenea-old ville indigene.

A Closer Look

Buildings throughout the city are highlighted red with the Old City (ville indigene or indigenous city) farther north than the New City (ville nouvelle). Streets, parks, and even certain buildings are labeled in the New City. Several military camps, two hospitals, and the city stadium are among the buildings. The Kasbah is illustrated and labeled in the old city. 89 locations within the Old City are numerically identified and correspond with an index in the lower right corner. 24 locations within the New City are labeled in this manner.

The New City

The French protectorate in Morocco officially began in 1912 and lasted until 1956. However, the French military occupation of Morocco began in 1907 with the invasion of Oujda. Part of French colonial rule in Morocco extended to building 'new cities' or 'villes nouvelles' in major cities throughout Morocco. These were planned urbanscapes, with wide streets lined by government buildings. The French built villes nouvelles in Agadir, Casablanca, Fès, Marrakech, Mazagan (El Jadida), Meknès, Mogador (Essaouira), Ouezzane, Oujda, Port-Lyautey (Kenitra), Rabat, Sefrou, Settat, and Taza.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and published by the Service géographique du Maroc in 1938. A single cataloged example appears in OCLC, at the Université Bordeaux Montaigne.