Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador)

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The Medina of Essaouira (Formerly Mogador): A Unique Blend of European and African Architecture

The Medina of Essaouira, previously known as Mogador, is a captivating example of a well-preserved late-18th-century fortified town located along the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, this enchanting city offers a unique blend of European and North African architectural influences that have shaped its rich history and culture.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Essaouira is an exceptional example of a late-18th-century fortified town, built according to the principles of contemporary European military architecture in a North African context. Since its foundation, it has been a major international trading seaport, linking Morocco and its Saharan hinterland with Europe and the rest of the world.

UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site

Criterion (ii): Essaouira is an outstanding and well preserved example of a mid-18th century fortified seaport town, with a strong European influence translated to a North African context.

Criterion (iv): With the opening of Morocco to the rest of the world at the end of the 17th century, the Medina of Essaouira was laid out by a French architect who had been profoundly influenced by the work of the military engineer Vauban at Saint Malo. For the most part, it has retained its appearance of a European town.

Encyclopedia Record: Essaouira

Essaouira, known until the 1960s as Mogador, is a port city in the western Moroccan region of Marrakesh-Safi, on the Atlantic coast. It has 77,966 inhabitants as of 2014.

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