City of Agadir, Morocco: description, history, attractions and interesting facts

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

The beautiful white sand that covers the shores of the beaches in this part of the Atlantic Ocean, and the special microclimate make Agadir the most popular resort in Morocco. Sheltered by the Atlas Mountains and warmed by the winds of the Sahara Desert, the region of Agadir has special climatic conditions: 340 days of sunshine a year, moderately high temperatures in summer, unusually warm winters without wind and the ability to swim all year round.

The famous beaches of Agadir in Morocco are one of the most wonderful creations of nature. Only for the sake of them, numerous European tourists come here all year round. The stretching 10-kilometer promenade is considered one of the best in the world. In this modern resort, everything is created for a comfortable and varied holiday. With its modern hotels, whitewashed buildings, European cafes and wide, flower-filled boulevards, Agadir doesn't look like a typical city in traditional Morocco. It is modern, dynamic,a cosmopolitan city looking to the future.

General information

Located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean at the very foot of the Atlas Mountains, Agadir is located north of the place where the river Sousse flows into the ocean. The city is located 250 kilometers southwest of Marrakesh and 508 kilometers south of Casablanca. The common Berber noun "agadir" in Morocco means "wall, enclosure, fortified building, citadel". There are several other cities with this name in the country. The full name of the modern resort sounded like Agadir-n-Yigir, literally - "cape fortress", which referred to the nearest Cape Reer.

Agadir and Marrakesh are the most important tourist centers of Morocco, and for the seaside resort it is one of the main sources of income. The city is also the most important commercial and sardine fishing port in the country. The main city business should also include the export of vegetables, fruits, citrus fruits produced in the fertile Sousse valley.

History of the city

There are practically no historical and architectural sights of Morocco in Agadir. All buildings have been erected since 1960, after the city was completely destroyed by an earthquake. Of the antiquities, only one wall has survived. But this does not mean that the city does not have its own history.

The oldest cartographic name of Porto Mezeghina, a settlement on the site of modern Agadir, can be found on a map from 1325. But among the Berber tribes, this inhabited place was mentioned since the 12th century under the name of Mesgina or Xima. In 1572here, on top of a hill, at the behest of the second Saadian Sultan of Morocco, Moulay Abdallah al-Ghalib, the Kasbah fortress was built. The city outside its walls is named Agadir N'Igir.

In the 17th century, the city was an important harbor in trade relations with Europe. However, there was no port or pier. In Agadir, they mainly sold sugar, wax, copper, leather and hides. Europeans brought goods, in particular weapons and textiles. During the reign of Sultan Moulay Ismail (1645-1727) and his successors, trade with France flourished. In 1731, the city was completely destroyed by an earthquake, and then the harbor of Agadir was closed, since another port of Essaouira successfully functioned to the north.

In 1746, the Dutch established a trading post at the foot of the Kasbah and, under the guidance of the Sultan, helped rebuild the city. Above the fortress gates of the Kasbah, a Dutch inscription dating from 1746 is still preserved: "The fear of God and the honor of the king." The prosperity of the city did not last long. In 1760 Sultan Alawite Mohammed bin Abdullah ordered the closure of the harbor. Agadir has become a ghost town with a few houses. In 1881, Sultan Moulay Hassan reopened the Agadir harbor for trade and to secure maritime expeditions in the south (1882–1886) against Spanish and English ships.

After the acquisition by France (1905–1911) of most of Moroccan territory in 1916, the first pier was built near Funti, and after 1920, a port was built under the French protectorate in the Talbort area. Twoa year later, near Talbort, along the fault of the Tildi River, the construction of the popular Yakhchech district began. By 1930, Agadir had become the most important point of the French air mail Aéropostale, which was once visited by the famous pilots of Saint-Exupery and Mermoz.

In the 1930s, the center of Agadir began to be built up. The city continued to grow, and since 1950, after the opening of a new commercial port, the fishing industry, canning, agriculture and mining have developed. Agadir, thanks to its unique climate and modern hotels, began to gain fame as a popular resort. By 1960, the city had over 40,000 inhabitants when an earthquake destroyed the city at midnight on February 29, burying more than a third of the population under the rubble.

Reviews of tourists about Agadir

Morocco annually attracts many tourists with its resorts, culture, special oriental atmosphere, originality of old cities and unique cuisine. Agadir is not distinguished by the traditional Moroccan environment, and yet it remains the best resort in the country. And this is not only the merit of the famous beaches. The city is beautiful and well maintained in a modern way, with many excellent golf clubs, bars, restaurants, entertainment and sports facilities. This is a good place for yachtsmen and boat trips along the coast. The resort hotels and tourist centers organize interesting excursions to the city's surroundings and longer day trips from Agadir to Morocco.

Judging by the opinions of tourists who visited this resort, the tripleaves a terrific impression and the desire to return here again. Despite the fact that Agadir is a modern city, there is something to see and where to visit. This is a real paradise for lovers of extreme sports, in particular, surfing and water skiing. In addition to spending time on the beach in a Moroccan resort, you can visit the spa and thalassotherapy salons, ride horses and camels, indulge in shopping or take a trip around the area.

Hotels

All tourist establishments of the city are decorated either in accordance with the latest innovations in modern design, or stylized with ethnic elements common in Morocco. Hotels in Agadir are no exception, ranging from the most luxurious to budget options.

The gradation of hotel prices here is designed for tourists with pockets of any size. From hotels located near the beaches, we can recommend the following options:

• Robinson Club luxury beachfront resort with sea views, tennis courts, multiple pools, spa and full service;
• 4-star ClubHotel Riu Tikida Dunas with lovely family rooms, beautiful pools and karaoke bar;
• Hotel Timoulay & Spa Agadir is a mid-range hotel that takes a short walk to the beach but has a palm-lined pool and spa;
• Hotel Sindibad is a budget hotel with friendly staff, a small pool, clean rooms and air conditioning.

Attractions

The long wall with the gates of the Kasbah is the only historical heritage of Agadir. The remains of the ramparts remind us that once there was a noisy and bustling city with narrow crooked streets behind the walls of the fortress. Against the backdrop of a bright blue sky, the old walls look picturesque in photographs, and the remains of the walls of the Kasbah, located on the hillside, provide excellent panoramic views of Agadir and the Atlantic coast. By the end of the day before sunset, the lighting provides the best conditions for spectacular photos.

The city center has several interesting monuments. The Grand Mosque is an Art Nouveau structure quite unique among the places of worship in Morocco. In Agadir, according to vacationers, the collection of ethnic items of traditional Berber culture, located in three halls of the Amazigh Museum (Passage Ait Souss), is quite interesting. Here you can see a collection of weapons, textiles, ceramics, talismans, manuscripts, precious jewelry of the indigenous population of the coast.

Remote excursions

At 14 km east of Agadir is the Crocopark Wildlife Sanctuary. This is the home of the Nile crocodiles, which until the beginning of the 20th century were common in Morocco, but were completely exterminated by hunters. In this park, you can see these terrible animals in close proximity and in an almost natural setting for them. The park gardens showcase a wide variety of exotic and local flora.

During your holiday in Agadir in Morocco, you can not miss a trip to the cityTiznit, which is located 97 km south of the resort. Tinzit is one of the best places in the country to buy authentic Berber jewelry. Situated on the Anti-Atlas mountain range, the city is surrounded by impressive fortifications. Within the walls of the old town is a labyrinth of lanes and bazaars selling traditional Tiznit jewelry and other handicrafts. Thursday is the weekly market day, when you can experience the real exotic local life.

65 km south of Agadir is the Souss-Massa National Park - a unique habitat of birds with an area of 330 square kilometers. People come here specially to observe pink flamingos, ibis, rare species of ducks, herons, cormorants, sandboxes and many other birds among the sand dunes, beaches and wetlands of the Atlantic coast.

Those tourists who are not afraid of long distances will be interested in a trip to one of the most beautiful seaside cities of Morocco - Essaouira, which is 173 km north of Agadir. Or to the almost equally distant Moroccan mountain village of Tafraoute, a serene haven among orange cliffs near the Ait Mansour Gorge, where prehistoric art has been preserved.

Sport activities

The city provides excellent conditions for sports. Golf du Soleil is the most prestigious club with the best golf course in Agadir. Most of the best golf courses and clubs are located in the suburbs, such as Med Les Dunes, where each of the three courses is individually designed. The city also hasexcellent tennis courts and a riding studio.

Tourists who dream of mastering surfing are encouraged to join Ecole de Kite-surf surfing, a school located on the central beach. Experienced athletes will be interested in visiting Taghazout, a small town 10 km from Agadir with the best surf spot on the coast.

Nightlife

Nightlife fans will find plenty of entertainment. One of the most popular places is the club Le Central with its daily variety of cultural program. Gambling fans will be interested in Le Mirage - a casino that offers a wide range of gaming tables and modern slots. Tourists who want a more moderate holiday are recommended Papagayo and Atlas Club. It often organizes themed exciting parties, in addition to which guests will find exclusive snacks and cocktails. Fans of dance music before dawn will surely enjoy the bright disco called Flamingo.

Shopping

The most picturesque, large and colorful city market - Souq el-Had, where you can buy almost everything. There are long aisles of various products with all kinds of olives, traditional sweets, fresh and candied fruits, vegetables, spices and God knows what else. The market features beautiful local textiles, leather, ceramics and other items, as well as bags, belts, shoes and various accessories.

Unipriks - the largest of the most exciting and inexpensive shoppingcenters of Agadir in Morocco. The price of popular goods here is designed for budget buyers. In the large supermarket of the shopping center, a decent selection of Moroccan wines and canned fish at the lowest prices in the city is in special demand. Marzhan Hypermarket is another popular shopping destination with a rich selection of local delicacies, spices and other products that are cheaper than the market.

The most unusual big store is L'Echappee Belle Etape Berbere with its richest variety of original items: clothes, shoes, many different items, art, even furniture, all done in ethnic style. The prices are quite high, but the product is extremely exclusive.

Women should definitely visit the Argan store, where the presented souvenirs and cosmetics are made using argan oil: handmade soaps, creams, hair and body products, and much more. The Ensemble Artisanal store is no less interesting for its exclusive ceramic, wooden and leather items, luxurious fabrics, and handmade carpets. The design of the store is like a true national art museum.

Among other attractions in Agadir, we can recommend the healing atmosphere of real Turkish baths (hammam) with traditional spa rituals. Another interesting pastime is desert trekking and camel riding.