Medina of Essaouira

Renowned as the blue pearl of the Atlantic, Essaouira captivates tourists with its unique Medina, which was appointed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2001. In its justification for inscription of Medina of Essaouira the UNESCO states that Essaouira is an exceptional example of a late-18th-century fortified seaport town, built in accordance with the principles of contemporary European military architecture in a North African context. Since inception, it has been a major international trading seaport, linking Morocco and its Saharan surroundings with Europe and the rest of the world. Essaouira has retained its European look to quite an extent.

Formerly known as Mogador, Essaouira was founded in 1760 by Sultan Sidi Muhammad ibn-Abdullah. With Morocco being linked to the rest of the world in the later 17th century, Essaouira was designed in a rectilinear pattern by a French architect Cornut who had been greatly influenced by the work of Vauban at Saint-Malo. In 1844 the fortress was bombarded by a French naval force under the direction of Prince de Joinville, son of King Louis Philippe.

In 1873, Essaouira was captured by tribesmen and in 1906 occupied by the Berber leader Anflus for a short period. Medina of Essaouira prospered for a time in early 20th century, but declined when the city of Agadir was opened to foreign trade.