Dar el-Beida, Fez
The Dar el-Beida 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.
History
Dar Batha and Dar el-Beida were constructed to serve as a summer palace and as a residence for distinguished visitors and guests. The complex was commissioned and begun in the late 19th century by Sultan Hassan I. Dar Batha was completed under Sultan Abdelaziz, while Dar el-Beida was completed under his rival and successor Abdelhafid.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. The Dar el-Beida continues to be used by the government as a reception palace.