Dar el-Beida, Fez
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Dar el-Beida (Arabic: الدار البيضاء, lit. 'White House') is a royal residence in Fez, Morocco. It was originally part of a larger complex that included the nearby Dar Batha to the northeast. In 1915, the two were separated when Dar Batha was converted into a museum. Today, Dar el-Beida remains an active royal residence and is not open to the public.
Dar Batha and Dar el-Beida were constructed to serve as a summer palace and as a residence for distinguished visitors and guests.[1][2] The complex was commissioned and begun in the late 19th century by Sultan Hassan I. Dar Batha was completed under Sultan Abdelaziz,[1][2] while Dar el-Beida was completed under his rival and successor Abdelhafid.[1]
In 1912 the two palaces were used to house the services of the Resident-general of the new French Protectorate. In 1915, Dar Batha was converted into a museum of local arts, to which the collection previously housed at the Dar Adiyel was transferred.[3] The Dar el-Beida continues to be used by the government as a reception palace.[4]
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