A short drive from Fez, Bhalil is a Berber town with more to it than meets the eye: many of the attractive and colourful houses extend back into the cliffs over which the town is spread, utilising troglodyte dwellings dating back centuries. While you’re hear you’ll undoubtedly be invited into one of these homes to see for yourself and enjoy a refreshing mint tea.
Close by lies the town of Sefrou and the two are typically visited together. There is evidence that a Jewish settlement was here before the advent of Islam in the 8th Century. The medina has achieved UNESCO World Heritage listing, enabling some attractive restoration, and the mellah (Jewish quarter) is a real warren of narrow streets overlooked by intricate wooden balconies typical of Jewish architecture in Morocco.
