"Essaouira or Mogador" a Essaouira Travel Page by amsterdam_vallon

Essaouira has been visited by traders for hundreds of years.

Caravans are known to have brought ivory and gold dust here from Sub-Saharan Africa since the 11th century.

Essaouira had also been, from time to time, a favored private baunt.

The Portuguese built a fort here in 1506.

The town you see today was founded in 1785; it was built according to the plans of the French engineer corunt, imprisoned during the reign of Mohammed Ben Abdullah. It is for these reasons that, in contrast to other Moroccan medinas, the main roads here run straight and at right angles.

After the closing of the harbor at Agadir, Mogador gained in importance. Many Jewish merchants settled here. The caravans from Timbuktu brought ivory and gold in exchange for leather salt and sugar.

Consequently, when the French occupied Timbuktu early in the 20th century, Essaouira lost its eminence as a center for trade.

When you come to Essaouira you can see the tall house paint in white with blue doors.

Essaouira has a nice little collection of sights. None impressive, but all of great aesthetical value. The walled white town, the ramparts, the harbour and the streets of craftsmen working behind open doors.

1- Ramparts
2- The Sqala
3- The Port
4- The Medina
5- The Ancient Mellah
6- Notre-Dame church
7- The Beach
8- The Damgaard Gallery

Follow this link for a virtual visit of Essaouira : Follow the Guide

The Medina of Essaouira (formely Mogador) is under the autority of the Unesco World Heritage.

This is the mission of this organisation:

Protecting natural and cultural properties of outstanding
universal value against the threat of damage in a rapidly developing world.