Essaouira history

Ancient Roots and Rebirth

Although the territory of modern **Essaouira** has been known to seafarers since antiquity, the city's history is clearly divided into ancient and modern stages. As early as the 7th century BC, the Phoenicians established a trading post here, and later the Romans used the coastal islands to extract precious purple dye from sea shells. For a long time, the location was known by its Portuguese name, Mogador.

The official founding date of the current medina is considered to be **1765**. Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah decided to build a fortified royal port here. To realise this ambitious plan, the French architect Théodore Cornut was invited. It was thanks to his precise planning that the city received the name Essaouira, which can be translated as "beautifully designed" or "the fortress".

Key Factors of Development

The rapid development of the city in the 18th century was driven by a combination of geographical advantages and political decisions:

• Strategic Geography: Its location on the Atlantic coast, protected by the chain of Purple Islands, created ideal conditions for the safe anchorage of ships.
• Trade Monopoly: The Sultan made Essaouira the only port in southern Morocco open to European trade, redirecting the flow of goods here from Agadir.
• Proximity to Marrakech: The city became the natural "sea gate" for the imperial capital, ensuring the shortest route to the ocean.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

Soon after its foundation, Essaouira turned into a thriving commercial hub, gaining the unofficial status of the "Port of Timbuktu". Caravans from sub-Saharan countries arrived here, bringing gold, ivory, and ostrich feathers for export to Europe. In exchange, merchants took away textiles, tea, and sugar.

A unique feature of early Essaouira was its cosmopolitan nature. The Sultan actively encouraged the settlement of merchants and artisans in the city. Muslims, Christians, and Jews coexisted peacefully here. The Jewish community played a special role in the city's economy, acting as intermediaries in international trade ("the Sultan's merchants") and developing the art of jewellery making.

Major Historical Milestones

• 7th Century BC — Phoenician navigators establish a trading post on the island of Mogador, using it as an important stop on Atlantic routes.
• 1st Century BC — The Mauretanian King Juba II organises purple dye manufactories on the coastal islands, bringing fame to the region within the Roman Empire.
• 1506 — The Portuguese erect the fortress Castelo Real de Mogador to strengthen their influence on the coast, but are soon forced to abandon it.
• 1765 — Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah lays the foundation for the modern city, commissioning French architect Théodore Cornut to develop a master plan with wide, straight streets.
• 1760–1800 — Essaouira becomes the kingdom's main port and the only location open to international trade, leading to an economic golden age.
• 1844 — During the Franco-Moroccan War, the city is bombarded by a French squadron under the command of the Prince de Joinville.
• 1912 — With the establishment of the French protectorate, the city is officially named Mogador and gradually cedes trade supremacy to the developing Casablanca.
• 1952 — Orson Welles films "Othello" within the labyrinth of the medina and on the bastions, immortalising the city's architecture in world cinema.
• 1956 — After Morocco gains independence, the city returns to its historic Arabic name, Essaouira.
• 1969 — A visit by Jimi Hendrix cements the city's status as a cult destination for hippies and the creative intelligentsia from around the world.
• 1998 — The first Gnaoua and World Music Festival is held, which subsequently becomes one of the largest musical events in Africa.
• 2001 — The Medina of Essaouira is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as an outstanding example of a fortified town of the late 18th century.
• 2020 — The "Bayt Dakira" (House of Memory) museum opens, dedicated to the centuries-old history of peaceful coexistence between the city's Jewish and Muslim communities.

Stages of the City's Transformation

• Urban Planning Experiment (1765)

  Building the city according to the plan of a European engineer created a unique precedent in Morocco. Wide straight streets and a system of fortifications (Skala) not only ensured defence but also facilitated logistics, turning the city into an efficient trading mechanism, unlike the chaotic medinas of Fez or Marrakech.

• Era of Diplomacy and "Port of Timbuktu" (19th Century)

  Essaouira's transformation into a diplomatic capital, hosting 12 foreign consulates, made the city the main link between Morocco and Europe. Control over trans-Saharan trade led to the flourishing of the merchant class and the formation of a unique multicultural community.

• Shift in Economic Priorities (Early 20th Century)

  With the development of the port of Casablanca, Essaouira's commercial importance declined. The city reoriented itself towards fishing and sardine processing. This economic stagnation paradoxically saved the historic centre from demolition and modern development, preserving its authentic appearance.

• Bohemian Discovery (1960–70s)

  The arrival of hippies and Western musicians radically changed the city's image. Essaouira ceased to be perceived as a provincial fishing port and gained status as a cultural refuge for artists and the creative intelligentsia, laying the foundation for future tourism flows.

• Institutionalisation of Heritage (Since 1998)

  The launch of the Gnaoua Festival and the inclusion of the medina in the UNESCO list became drivers of the modern economy. The city transitioned from spontaneous tourism to an organised hospitality industry, restoring ancient riads and positioning itself as a centre of world art and tolerance.

Architecture and Urban Planning

The architectural appearance of Essaouira is unique for Morocco. Unlike the labyrinths of Fez or Marrakech, which grew spontaneously, this city was designed on a drawing board. It is a rare example of a "Cherifian plan" — an urban planning concept of the late 18th century, in which European engineering thought was combined with Arab-Muslim traditions and the socio-cultural needs of that time.

Stylistic Eras and Influences

The city's built environment clearly reflects the period of its foundation and subsequent development, demonstrating a synthesis of two main directions:

• European Fortification (Vauban Style):

  The foundation of the city, laid in 1765 by architect Théodore Cornut, is based on the principles of French military architecture. This is evident in the wide straight streets intersecting at right angles, massive bastions, and monumental gates. The style is characterised by severity, functionality, and the use of hewn stone.

• Hispano-Moorish Style:

  The filling of the urban grid with residential houses and public buildings is executed in the traditional Maghrebi style. It is characterised by blank external facades concealing inner courtyards (patios), arched passageways, and the use of decorative elements, albeit more restrained than in the imperial capitals.

Iconic Elements of the Urban Environment

Essaouira's calling card has become its colour palette. The snow-white walls of buildings contrast with the bright blue doors, shutters, and boats in the harbour. This "Blue Mogador" creates a unique atmosphere of freshness and light melancholy.

Key Districts and Buildings

The urban fabric of Essaouira is divided into several historically significant zones, each with its own architectural features:

• Kasbah (Citadel): The oldest part of the city, where the administration and foreign consulates were located. Here stand the most impressive stone mansions with elements of European neoclassicism, adapted to the local climate.
• Medina: A residential district with traditional riads. The streets here are straight but narrower than in the Kasbah, providing protection from ocean winds. The minaret of the Ben Youssef Mosque rises above the medina.
• Mellah (Jewish Quarter): Located in the north-eastern part of the medina. The architecture here is distinguished by higher density and verticality of buildings, the presence of external balconies, and dark facades, which distinguishes it from the rest of the city.
• Skala de la Ville and Skala du Port: Monumental artillery platforms with crenellated walls and a collection of 18th-century bronze cannons. These are the brightest examples of military engineering of that era, becoming the main symbol of the city.

Founders and Historical Figures

• Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah (Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah)
  Sultan of Morocco from the Alouite Dynasty (18th Century)

  The de facto founding father of modern Essaouira. In 1765, he conceived the idea of creating a royal port that would become the empire's trade gateway. His visionary decision to lower customs duties attracted merchants from all over the world to the city and ensured the region's economic flourishing for a century to come.

• Théodore Cornut
  French military architect and engineer

  The executor of the Sultan's will, who designed the unique look of the city. Cornut, a disciple of the great fortification engineer Vauban, drew a plan with wide straight streets and powerful bastions (Skala). It is thanks to him that the medina of Essaouira combines a Moroccan soul with European geometric precision.

• Sidi Mogdoul
  Muslim Saint, Patron of the City

  A semi-legendary medieval figure whose mausoleum is located at the entrance to the city. Historians believe that it was from a distorted pronunciation of his name that the old European name of the city — Mogador — originated. The lighthouse named in his honour still serves as a landmark for sailors.

Modern Figures and Culture

• André Azoulay
  Advisor to the Kings of Morocco, economist and public figure

  The most famous modern native of the city. He played a key role in the cultural revival of Essaouira, initiating the creation of the famous Gnaoua and World Music Festival. Azoulay actively promotes ideas of tolerance and the preservation of the city's Jewish-Muslim heritage.

• Orson Welles
  American film director and actor

  Although he did not live here permanently, Welles forever inscribed the city into cinema history. The filming of his masterpiece "Othello" in 1949–1952 turned the bastions of Essaouira into the scenery of Cyprus. In memory of the director, one of the city's squares is named after him.

• Jimi Hendrix
  Legendary rock musician

  His brief visit in July 1969 became surrounded by so many myths that it became part of urban legend. Hendrix's arrival cemented Essaouira's status as a mecca for hippies and free artists, which persists to this day. Locals still tell stories about his attempts to buy the village of Diabat.

• Maalem Mahmoud Guinia
  Master (Maalem) of Gnaoua music

  A virtuoso guembri player and native of Essaouira who brought the ritual music of the descendants of enslaved people to the world stage. He recorded with stars such as Carlos Santana and Peter Gabriel, turning a local tradition into an international phenomenon.