HISTOIRE D’ESSAOUIRA
	ESSAOUIRA Essaouira, formerly known as Mogador by the Portuguese, is one of the most attractive Atlantic coast towns of Morocco and THE seaside resort of the Marrakchis. Today, Essaouira has retained its authenticity. Strolling through the medina – with its small markets, colourful stalls and arts & crafts workshops – is a magical experience. When you emerge, the view over the harbour, with its host of little blue boats, is simply outstanding, not forgetting of course the immense beach of fine, golden sand where people from all walks of life join together to enjoy the simple and friendly atmosphere. Loosing yourself in the Essaouira medina is a truly pleasurable experience. The fragrance of cedarwood attracts you to a craftsman’s workshop. When you come out, the shimmering colours of spices grab your attention – you just can’t resist smelling them all. Further on, you will see the pottery, the stalls selling argan oil, lamps and leather goods. Finally, after admiring the babouche slippers, you find yourself in the heart of a small fish market. Magic, authentic and unforgettable moments. Essaouira History Caravans are known to have brought ivory and gold dust here from Sub-Saharan Africa since the 11th century. Essaouira, also known as Mogador, 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. Essaouira was laid out by a French architect who had been profoundly influenced by the work of Vauban at Saint-Malo. It has retained its European appearance to a substantial extent.   After the closing of the harbor at Agadir, Mogador gained in importance. Many Jewish merchants settled here. The caravans from Timbuktu brought ivory and gold in exchange for leather salt and sugar. Consequently, when the French occupied Timbuktu early in the 20th century, Essaouira lost its eminence as a center for trade.  Nowadays, Essaouira is a whole world away from Marrakech in terms of pace and it is a great place to unwind.  Essaouira and Art WOOD CARVING The Thuya tree is a short scrub-like conifer indigenous to Morocco and particularly from Essaouira area. The exceptional natural patterns in the grain are only found in the root of the tree. This wood has been coveted since Roman times and in modern times extracts from the tree are used in both homeopathy and aromatherapy.  For most visitors to Morocco, the best place for a good choice of thuya wood objects at reasonable prices is probably Essaouira, which is the nearest big outlet to the main producing villages.  The medina is home to many small arts and crafts businesses, notably cabinet making and 'thuya' wood-carving , both of which have been practised in Essaouira for centuries.  JEWELLERY  You will find the jeweller’s market near Mohammed El Gorry street. When the Jewish community in Essaouira was strong, this market was famous for its quality output.  However, since most of the Jewish silversmiths departure, there are but a few tradesmen who still make their own jewellery.  WOOL CARPETS Buying a Moroccan carpet can be one of the more pleasurable shopping experiences. You should first visit one of the larger shops where you can see a range of quality and styles.  Carpet designs are extremely varied so look for something that pleases you and will look good at home. The variety is endless. Quality is a very important issue especially where price is concerned. The Berber carpets are the most famous.  These are usually handmade, with naturally dyed wool.  Colors range from bright and cheerful to subdued to faded. Some carpets are older, and some are antique. THE ZELLIGE The art of Zellige flourished at the Hispano-Moresque period. It then appeared in Morocco in the 10th century using nuances of white and brown colours. Blue, red, green and yellow colours were introduced in the 17th century. The old enamels with the natural colours were used until the beginning of the 20th century and the colors had probably not evolved much since the period of Merinids. This framework of expression arose from the need of Islamic artists to create spatial decorations that avoided depictions of living things, consistent with the teachings of Islamic law. Wandering along Essaouira’s streets you will find many exemples of these zelliges’ usage, both for public spaces and for houses’ renovation. ARCHITECTURE Bab Doukkala : The main thoroughfare of Essaouira is a street with three names. It leaves the harbor as the Avenue Okba Ibn Nafi, it later becomes the Avenue de Istiqlal and ends up as the Rue Mohammed Zerktouni. At the east end of the medina, this main road reaches Bab Doukkala, one of three town gates. In the afternoon, crowds gather outside the Bab Doukkala to watch storytellers and musicians perform. Watchtower : On the Avenue Okba Ibn Nafi, you cannot miss the watchtower. It looms before you after you pass through Bab as-Sebaâ. It is unique and beautiful as well as a useful landmark. The harbour : Essaouira’s history as a maritime trading center dates back to the time of Hanno, a Carthaginian Admiral circa 465 B.C. The harbor sits on the jetty that stretches from the beginning of Avenue Okba Ibn Nafi. To reach it, you pass the customs house or you lead through the Marine door, which was built in 1764. The area around the harbour is one of the liveliest in Essaouira. In the afternoon the activity reaches a frenzy, as the fishermen return to unload their catch. Arrive around 4pm and, with a bit of bargaining, you can bring home some of the day’s catch for yourself. There is also a fish auction in the late morning. In June, the sardine fishery opens in Essaouira. Perhaps the most fascinating is to watch the fishermen at their craft. Seeing them building their boats or repairing their nets makes you feel like time has stopped. Scala de la Kasbah : Heading north along “Rue de la Sqala”, away from the Place Moulay Hassan you will come to the access point for the ramparts of the old Portuguese fort. The ramparts are still “protected” by towers and some very well maintained 18th and 19th century bronze cannons. They date to as early as 1743 and were cast in Spain. At the fort of the wall is a cluster of handicraft shops selling wooden objects made from the renowned Thuya tree. Thuya is Essaouira’s most important artisanal product and can be found all over town. Also on the way to the “Sqala de Kasbah”, on the “Rue Laaloui”, you will find the small museum of popular art Sidi Mohammed Ben Adallah. Mogador Island : During the first century A.D. Juba II manufactured a highly valued dye in Essaouira. The red dye, made from the purple snail, gave the islands their name. You can see a ruined Portuguese Fort that was later used as a prison and further along you will notice the ruins of an old mosque. Nowadays the islands serve as a sanctuary for Eleonora’s falcons. GNAOUA MUSIC Gnaoua music has its origins in sub-saharan Africa. Black slaves from Senegal, Sudan and Ghana, who were taken to Morocco in former centuries brought it here. Their ecstatic dances remind of the voodoo cult. Gnaoua music has a great socio-psychological importance, as it is supposed to heal diseases. In Essaouira the tradition of Gnaoua music dates back to the 16th century, when Sudanese slaves were brought to the Haha territory. This is the first Gnaoua of Essaouira and its language is berber. In 1760, with the construction of the harbour and the medina, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah brought a lot of slaves to Essaouira. Their songs tell about the painful march through the Sahara desert and the sufferings of slavery “Ouled Banbara”. Anyway, Gnaoua music has always been a very lively music and seeing a Gnaoua performance is an unforgettable experience. The Gnaoua festival of Essaouira, which is held during the second part of June, is maybe the best example for a modern Gnaoua performance, which still holds on tight to its origins.  ARGAN OIL Argan oil is an oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree, endemic to Essaouira area, that is valued for its nutritive, cosmetic and numerous medicinal properties. The tree, a relict species from the Tertiary age, is extremely well adapted to drought and other environmentally difficult conditions of southwestern Morocco. At the Cooperatives, Berber women sit on the floor with rough rectangular stones between their knees cracking pits with rounded rocks. Each smooth pit contains one to three kernels, which look like sliced almonds and are rich in oil. The kernels are then removed and gently roasted. This roasting accounts for part of the oil's distinctive, nutty flavour. It takes several days and about 32 kilograms of fruit - roughly one season's produce from a single tree - to make only one liter of oil. The cosmetic oil, rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, is used for massage, facials and as an ingredient in anti-aging cream.  Most of the oil is bottled pure for cooking, as a dressing on salads, meat or fish or simply as a dip for bread. MINT TEA Mint tea is a flavoured tea prepared in northern Africa and in Arabian countries. Mint tea is central to social life in Maghreb countries. The serving of mint tea can take a ceremonial form, especially when prepared for a guest. Mint tea will be served to you upon arrival by our dedicated staff.