fez

Fez is a name that can refer to a city in Morocco, a traditional headwear, and a modern video game. This article briefly describes these distinct uses.

Fez (the city) refers to a historic urban center in northern Morocco. The medina of Fez el-Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its medieval streets, mosques, madrasas, and artisan quarters. The city is a major cultural and religious center and is known for its leather tanneries, pottery, and metalwork. It is also home to the University of al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859 CE, which is often cited as the oldest continuously operating degree-granting university in the world.

The fez (hat) is a felt, cylindrical hat typically red and topped with a tassel. Its name derives from the Moroccan city of Fez, although the style became widely associated with the Ottoman Empire and Muslim-majority regions of North Africa and the Middle East. In the 19th and early 20th centuries it was common among officials and in military dress in several countries, but many places later restricted or abandoned it. Today the fez persists mainly in ceremonial, cultural, or fashion contexts.

Fez (video game) is an indie puzzle-platform game developed by Polytron Corporation, led by designer Phil Fish. Released in 2012 for Xbox 360 and later on other platforms, the game follows Gomez as he learns to perceive a third dimension by rotating a 2D world. It was praised for its inventive puzzles, retro-inspired visuals, and thoughtful design, winning multiple awards at independent game events.