Stays in riads in Essaouira

ESSAOUIRA

It is difficult to pinpoint the magical nature o Essaouira, nicknamed "the city of wind". Is it the city's unusual European architecture or its unusually well-preserved ramparts?
Essaouira is a perfect example of a late 18th century fortified town, with the original canons still in place and where Orson Wells shot his Othello, "The Moor of Venice".
Essaouira has all the trappings of a traditional picturesque village, inluding a bustling harbour, a colourful souk, old carpenters, men frantically pulling carts and those elusive figures in jellabas seen against the immensity of the beach. But its charm is also founded on less concrete, more intangible aspects: the brute force of the trade winds, the play of light on the Atlantic Ocean, the strident cries of the seagulls, the quiet, peaceful atmosphere and the pervading scent of thuja wood.

The Medina of Essaouira, formerly named Mogador (name originating from the Phoenician word Migdol meaning a «small fortress»), is an outstanding example of a fortified town of the mid-eighteenth century, surrounded by a wall influenced by the Vauban model. Constructed according to the principles of contemporary European military architecture, in a North African context, in perfect harmony with the precepts of Arabo-Muslim architecture and town-planning, it 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 as well as multiconfessional (Muslim, Christian and Jewish).

The beach of Essaouira is a renowned tourist attraction for water sports enthusiasts, especially surfers, windsurfers, and kite-surfers. But engaging in water sports is not the only exotic activity that can be done on the beaches of Essaouira. Along with being able to walk 6 miles (10km) of shoreline, you can also take this journey on a camel. If you are more comfortable on horseback, then enjoy a ride on unique Moroccan horses, which are a mix breed of Barb and Arab horses. For those desiring a high-paced view of the beach, you may enjoy riding 4-wheelers as well.
If you are interested in something more adventurous than just a camel or horseback ride on the beach, then you may enjoy one of the many cross-country treks and multi-day rides around Essaouira.