17 Facts About Essaouira

Essaouira, known until the 1960s as Mogador, is a port city in the western Moroccan region of Marakesh-Safi, on the Atlantic coast.

Foundation of the city of Essaouira was the work of the Moroccan 'Alawid sultan Mohammed bin Abdallah, who made an original experiment by entrusting it to several renowned architects in 1760, in particular Theodore Cornut and Ahmed al-Inglizi, who designed the city using French captives from the failed French expedition to Larache in 1765, and with the mission of building a city adapted to the needs of foreign merchants.

Until the 1960s, Essaouira was generally known by its Portuguese name, Mogador.

The bay at Essaouira is partially sheltered by the island of Mogador, making it a peaceful harbor protected against strong marine winds.

Essaouira has long been considered one of the best anchorages of the Moroccan coast.

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Essaouira remained a haven for the export of sugar and molasses and as an anchorage for pirates.

Essaouira bombarded the city the Sale, destroyed three corsair ships, and then sent the Griffon under Captain Treillebois to Mogador.

Present city of Essaouira was built during the mid-eighteenth century by the Moroccan King.

Mohammed III took numerous steps to encourage the development of Essaouira including closing off the harbour of Agadir to the south in 1767 so that southern trade could be redirected through Essaouira.

The road from Marrakesh to Essaouira is a straight line, explaining the king's choice of this port among the many others along the Moroccan coast.

Essaouira had a Franco-Moroccan school, still visible in Derb Dharb street.

Essaouira is protected by a natural bay partially shielded from wave action by the Iles Purpuraires.

Essaouira connects to Safi to the north and to Agadir to the south via the N1 road and to Marrakech to the east via the R 207 road.

Essaouira's climate is semi-arid with mild temperatures year round.

Medina of Essaouira is a UNESCO World Heritage listed city, an example of a late 18th-century fortified town, as transferred to North Africa by European colonists.

Essaouira remains one of the major fishing harbours of Morocco.

Essaouira is renowned for its kitesurfing and windsurfing, with the powerful trade wind blowing almost constantly onto the protected, almost waveless, bay.