"Essouira, Windy city Africa" a Essaouira Travel Page by tarou2004

Essouira, « the little ramparts », is the most charm town on the Moroccan coasts. It is where you feel the tranquillity and intimate atmosphere. No disturbing sounds of traffic within the 18th century walls.

The town has magnificent beach, the Atlantic winds make is popular base for windsurfing. The average temperature here is 18°C.

The lanes are as narrowed as in Marrakech, broken with beautiful arches. The buildings are a mixture of Portuguese, French and Berber architecture. They are white washed with blue doors and windows. It was Theodore Cornaut, a French architect hired by Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah in 1765.
The city has pleasant squares and cafés. There is a mixed population here doing different activities: fishermen, farmers, craftsmen, tourists. Essouira has an old Mellah, It had once 17 000 Jewish even more than Muslims at that time (who were just 10 000).Some Jewish still inhabits the ex-Mogador. In fact, The Essouira’s population is a mixture of Chiadma (Arabs) in the north and Haha (Berber); though, we should not ignore the great influence of “Gnawa”, an African tribe, who moved here when Essouira was Tombouktou’s harbour