From a day's walk in the Fez Medina

The somewhat famous leather souk of the Fez medina

Animal skins are soaked in a complex concoction until tanned

Tanned skins are dyed by foot

Dyed skins are cleaned

Some small examples are available for purchase

A visit to the Fez tanneries gives one a true appreciation of the efforts required to produce leather. It is an extreme sensory experience. One can find the tanneries by smell alone. Upon entering the viewing building each viewer/potential buyer is given a sprig of mint and herded to the viewing zone (potential buying zone) Although this is obviously a tourist trap it doesn't lessen the experience of seeing leather processed step by step in a way that one's ancestors could have witnessed. This dichotomy - the difference between tourist appeal and what is done to manage day by day, is present throughout Fez. Much of what goes on in Fez is similar to what went on one or two hundred years ago or even more. It is a very special place because of this.