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Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador)

Morocco
Date of Inscription: 2001
Criteria: (ii)(iv)
Property : 30.0000 ha
Buffer zone: 15.0000 ha
Province of Essaouira, Tensift Region
N31 31 0.012 W9 46 9.984
Ref: 753rev

Brief Description

Essaouira 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.

| B. Doucin/L. Lalaité © B. Doucin/L. Lalaité More pictures ...

Justification for Inscription

Criterion ii Essaouira is an outstanding and well preserved example of a late 18th century European fortified seaport town translated to a North African context. Criterion iv With the opening up of Morocco to the rest of the world in the later 17th century 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.

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