Essaouira
Essaouira), formerly known as Mogador, is a city in the western Morocca on the Atlantic coast. The modern name means "the little rampart", a reference to the fortress walls that still enclose part of the city. Essaouria has been described as " everybody's favourite Moroccan seaside town and it does not disappoint. Essaourira is 750 kilometres down the coast from Tangier Med. The medina is home to many small arts and crafts businesses, notably cabinet making and 'thuya' wood-carving (using roots of the Tetraclinis tree), both of which have been practised in Essaouira for centuries. Some of the wooden cabinets are particularly well crafted and are worth a look at for their craftsmanship. The beach and promenade are really nice with some lovely coffee shops and bars.
The southern end of the beach has camel rides and wind surfing. Nestled in the bay is the Ile de Mogador, a former prison that is now a bird sanctuary, it provided a spectacular backdrop against the setting sun in January.
We stayed in the town's only campsite and that was a real disappointment, there is an aire des services parking very near the beach and that may have been a better bet, both are a pleasant walk or cycle of 2.5 kilometres to the medina.
The medina is a wonderful experience, without the hard hassle of Marrakech and is an outstanding example of a fortified town of the mid-eighteenth century, surrounded by a wall Essaouira has played a major role over the centuries as an international trading seaport, linking Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa with Europe and the rest of the world. The town is also an example of a multicultural centre as proven by the coexistence, since its foundation, of diverse ethnic groups, such as the Amazighs, Arabs, Africans, and Europeans.. Known for a long time as the Port of Timbuktu, Essaouira became one of the major Atlantic commercial centres between Africa and Europe at the end of the 18th century and during the 19th century.
Essaouira
Essaouira), formerly known as Mogador, is a city in the western Morocca on the Atlantic coast. The modern name means "the little rampart", a reference to the fortress walls that still enclose part of the city. Essaouria has been described as " everybody's favourite Moroccan seaside town and it does not disappoint. Essaourira is 750 kilometres down the coast from Tangier Med. The medina is home to many small arts and crafts businesses, notably cabinet making and 'thuya' wood-carving (using roots of the Tetraclinis tree), both of which have been practised in Essaouira for centuries. Some of the wooden cabinets are particularly well crafted and are worth a look at for their craftsmanship. The beach and promenade are really nice with some lovely coffee shops and bars.
The southern end of the beach has camel rides and wind surfing. Nestled in the bay is the Ile de Mogador, a former prison that is now a bird sanctuary, it provided a spectacular backdrop against the setting sun in January.
We stayed in the town's only campsite and that was a real disappointment, there is an aire des services parking very near the beach and that may have been a better bet, both are a pleasant walk or cycle of 2.5 kilometres to the medina.
The medina is a wonderful experience, without the hard hassle of Marrakech and is an outstanding example of a fortified town of the mid-eighteenth century, surrounded by a wall Essaouira has played a major role over the centuries as an international trading seaport, linking Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa with Europe and the rest of the world. The town is also an example of a multicultural centre as proven by the coexistence, since its foundation, of diverse ethnic groups, such as the Amazighs, Arabs, Africans, and Europeans.. Known for a long time as the Port of Timbuktu, Essaouira became one of the major Atlantic commercial centres between Africa and Europe at the end of the 18th century and during the 19th century.