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Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador)

Essaouira is an exceptional example of a late­18th­century fortified town, built according to the principles ofcontemporary European military architecture in a North African context. Since its foundation, it has been a majorinternational trading seaport, linking Morocco and its Saharan hinterland with Europe and the rest of the world.

Médina d’Essaouira (ancienne Mogador)

Essaouira est un exemple exceptionnel de ville fortifiée de la fin du XVIIIe siècle, construite en Afrique du Nord selonles principes de l'architecture militaire européenne de l'époque. Depuis sa fondation, elle est restée un port de commerceinternational de premier plan reliant le Maroc et l'arrière­pays saharien à l'Europe et au reste du monde.

مدينة الصويرة (قديما موغادور)

تعتبر الصويرة المثال الفريد للمدينة المحصنة التي تعود الى نهاية القرن الثامن عشر. وقد بنيت في أفريقيا الشمالية وفقا لمبادئ الهندسة المعمارية العسكريةاالوروبية التي كانت سائدة في ذلك العصر. فمنذ تأسيسها بقيت مرفأ تجاريا عالميا من الباب األول٬ اذ تربط المغرب وداخل البالد الصحراوية بأوروبا وباقي

العالم.

source: UNESCO/ERI

索维拉城（原摩加多尔）

索维拉城是一个典型的18世纪晚期发展起来的北非防御港口城市，城市以同时期欧洲防御城堡为蓝本，加上北非地方特点建造而成。自从城市建成开始，索维拉城就成为重要的国际贸易海港，连接着摩洛哥以及撒哈拉内陆地区与欧洲和世界其他国家的贸易往来。

source: UNESCO/ERI

Медина (старая часть) города Эс­Сувейра (бывший Могадор)

Эс­Сувейра – это выдающийся пример крепостного города конца XVIII в., построенного в соответствии спринципами европейского фортификационного искусства того времени и с учетом особенностей условийСеверной Африки. Со времени своего основания этот город был важным международным торговым портом,связывающим Марокко и его расположенные в пустыне Сахара внутренние районы с Европой и всем остальным

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20/2/2015 Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) ­ UNESCO World Heritage Centre

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/753 2/6

миром.

source: UNESCO/ERI

Medina de Esauira (Antigua Mogador)

Esauira es un ejemplo excepcional de plaza fuerte construida en África del Norte con arreglo a los principios de laarquitectura militar europea de finales del siglo XVIII. Desde su fundación, la ciudad ha sido un puerto de primeraimportancia para el comercio de Marruecos y sus territorios saharianos con Europa y el resto del mundo.

source: UNESCO/ERI

エッサウィラのメディナ（旧名モガドール）

モロッコ南西部、マラケシ州西部の港湾都市。1765年フランスの築城専門家、ボーバン設計の城を中心に計画的に建設された都市。18世紀後半の要塞都市のすぐれた例証であり、北アフリカにおける近代ヨーロッパの軍事建築様式が見事に残されている。エッサウィラが重要な貿易港であったことから、モロッコとその内陸部、ヨーロッパや他の世界を結びつける上で大きな役割をはたいた。

source: NFUAJ

Medina van Essaouira (voorheen Mogador)

De medina van Essaouira – voorheen Mogador geheten, wat ‘klein fort’ betekent – is een uitstekend voorbeeld van eenlaat 18e­eeuwse versterkte stad, omgeven door een muur. De stad is gebouwd volgens de principes van de hedendaagseEuropese militaire architectuur in een Noord­Afrikaanse context. Essaouira is sinds haar stichting een grote zeehavengeweest voor internationale handel tussen Marokko en sub­Sahara Afrika, en Europa en de rest van de wereld. De stadis een voorbeeld van een multicultureel centrum, waar diverse etnische groepen zoals Imazighen, Arabieren, Afrikanenen Europeanen en religieuze groeperingen – moslims, christenen en Joden – vanaf het begin in harmonie samenleven.

Source: unesco.nl

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20/2/2015 Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) ­ UNESCO World Heritage Centre

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Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) © Unesco

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

The Medina of Essaouira, formerly named Mogador (name originating from the Phoenician word Migdol meaning a

20/2/2015 Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) ­ UNESCO World Heritage Centre

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« small fortress »), is an outstanding example of a fortified town of the mid­eighteenth century, surrounded by a wallinfluenced by the Vauban model. Constructed according to the principles of contemporary European militaryarchitecture, in a North African context, in perfect harmony with the precepts of Arabo­Muslim architecture and town­planning, it has played a major role over the centuries as an international trading seaport, linking Morocco and sub­Saharan Africa with Europe and the rest of the world. The town is also an example of a multicultural centre as provenby the coexistence, since its foundation, of diverse ethnic groups, such as the Amazighs, Arabs, Africans, andEuropeans as well as multiconfessional (Muslim, Christian and Jewish). Indissociable from the Medina, the Mogadorarchipelago comprises a large number of cultural and natural sites of Outstanding Universal Value. Its relatively latefoundation in comparison to other medinas of North Africa was the work of the Alaouite Sultan Sidi Mohamed BenAbdallah (1757­1790) who wished to make this small Atlantic town a royal port and chief Moroccan commercialcentre open to the outside world. Known for a long time as the Port of Timbuktu, Essaouira became one of the majorAtlantic commercial centres between Africa and Europe at the end of the 18th century and during the 19th century.

Criterion (ii): Essaouira is an outstanding and well preserved example of a mid­18th century fortified seaport town,with a strong European influence translated to a North African context.

Criterion (iv): With the opening of Morocco to the rest of the world at the end of the 17th century, the Medina ofEssaouira was laid out by a French architect who had been profoundly influenced by the work of the military engineerVauban at Saint Malo. For the most part, it has retained its appearance of a European town.

Integrity (2009)

Already completed by the 19th century and clearly defined by its ramparts, the Medina of Essaouira possesses all theessential components for its integrity. Comprising a harmonious ensemble associated with natural elements (MogadorArchipelago) and high quality cultural elements, the town today retains its integrity and its original distinctive style.Despite its integrity being slightly altered, notably due to degradation of buildings in the Mellah district, the degree ofloss does not compromise the significance of the property as a whole.

The state of conservation of the Medina of Essaouira is increasingly improved due to the efforts of the local authoritiesand the vigilance of the authorities directly concerned with its protection and presentation.

Authenticity (2009)

Founded in the middle of the 18th century, the Medina of Essaouira has for the most part conserved its authenticity asregards the conception and outline as well as the materials (use of local stone called manjour) and constructionmethods, and this in spite of some inadequate use of modern materials for repair and reconstruction work.Notwithstanding the sea swell and dampness elsewhere, the fortifications and urban fabric conserve, on the whole, theiroriginal configuration.

Protection and management requirements (2009)

Protection measures essentially relate to the different laws for listing of historic monuments and sites, and particularlythe Law 22­80 concerning the Moroccan heritage. Ownership of the elements that make up the historic town ofEssaouira is divided between the State, the municipality, the Habous, the Israelite Alliance, cooperatives and privateindividuals. The 1988 urban plan No. 4001 provides for a buffer zone around the historic town within whichconstruction is prohibited. Two significant protection and management measures are currently in the final stages ofapplication. These are the Master Plan for Urban Development of the town of Essaouira and the Safeguarding Plan forthe Medina.

The local population, the public authorities and the associative areas are increasingly aware of the OutstandingUniversal Value of the Medina. The Essaouira Urban Agency was created to ensure a better control of towndevelopment in general and the medina in particular. In parallel with other ministerial departments and services, thisAgency should, plan and coordinate efforts and monitor the execution and implementation of the ongoing or plannedwork sites. Contingent upon the establishment of a management plan for the medina that should both safeguard thearchitectural heritage and improve the living conditions of the local population, the authorities concerned for theprotection and safeguard of the property must supervise the application of the development plan for the medina and theentire town of Essaouira

Long Description

Essaouira is an outstanding and well­preserved example of a late 18th­century European fortified seaport towntranslated to a North African context. With the opening up of Morocco to the rest of the world in the later 17th century,

20/2/2015 Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) ­ UNESCO World Heritage Centre

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the town was laid out by a French architect who had been profoundly influenced by the work of Vauban at Saint­Malo.It has retained its European appearance to a substantial extent.

Since its foundation in the 18th century and until the beginning of the 20th century, Essaouira has played afundamental role as an international trading port between Morocco and the rest of the world. A number of consulatesand traders from different countries were established there. Essaouira is a leading example of building inspired byEuropean architecture, a town unique by virtue of its design: it was created in conformity with a predetermined plan,the Cornut plan. Since the beginning, the medina of Essaouira has been a major place for the peaceable coming togetherof the architectural and town­planning models of Europe and of Morocco itself. In this way a symbiosis was achievedbetween building techniques from Morocco and elsewhere that gave birth to some unique architectural masterpieces:the Sqalas of the port and of the medina, the Bab Marrakesh bastion, the water gate, mosques, synagogues, churches,etc.

Archaeological excavations have shown that the site of Essaouira was originally a Phoenician trading settlement,followed by Cretans, Greeks and Romans. The earlier name of Mogador derives from Migdol, meaning a small fort. In1506 it was to become the site of a Portuguese fortress, but this was abandoned soon after.

The present town dates from 1765, when the Alawite Sultan Sidi Mohamed ben Abdellah decided to build a port thatwould open Morocco up to the outside world and assist in developing commercial relations with Europe. He soughtthe help of Nicholas Théodore Cornut, a surveyor specialist in military fortifications from Avignon, who was stronglyinfluenced by Vauban's defences at Saint­Malo. He partially dismantled the Portuguese fortress to build an esplanadewith a row of cannons. The entire town was enclosed by a defensive wall on the Vauban model. In order to controlmaritime trade, he closed the southern coast to European traders, obliging the European consuls at Safi, Agadir andRabat to move to Mogador, where all southern mercantile activities were concentrated. The new port became one of thecountry's main commercial centres; it was called the 'port of Timbuktu' as it was the destination of caravans bringing avariety of products (including slaves) from black Africa. The town was made up of three separate districts. The kasbahcomprised the old administrative district. The medina was crossed by two main axial streets, one running from BabDoukalla to the harbour and the other from Bab Marrakesh to the sea. At their intersection there were four markets, forfish, spices, grain and general goods respectively.

The Mellah is the Jewish quarter; it played a very important role in the history of the town, as the sultan made use ofthis community to establish relations with Europe and to organize commercial activities with them. The main featuresof the town are: the ramparts, most of the northern section of which survives; the town gates, especially the ornamentalSea Gate (1170­71); the bastions and forts (borjs ), especially the Sqala of the Port and the Sqala of the Medina and theBastion of Bab Marrakesh; the kasbah , which was originally the seat of power and the military garrison, and is nowintegrated into the town proper; the Mellah (Jewish quarter), which retains many of its original special features; theprison, located on the offshore island (now a refuge for rare birds, such as hawks); the many mosques, in a characteristicstyle, and especially the mosques of the Casbah and Ben Yossef; the synagogues (in particular the 19th­centurysynagogue of Simon Attias), which preserve the dynamism of the Jewish inhabitants; the late 18th­century Portuguesechurch; the Dar­Sultan (old Royal Palace); and the very attractive private houses.

Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHC

Historical Description

Archaeological excavations have shown that the site of Essaouira was originally a Phoenician trading settlement; theywere followed by Cretans, Greeks, and Romans. The earlier name of Mogador derives from Migdol, meaning a smallfort. In 1506 it was to become the site of a Portuguese fortress, but this was abandoned soon after.

The present town dates from 1765, when the Alaouite Sultan Sidi Mohamed ben Abdellah decided to build a port thatwould open Morocco up to the outside world and assist in developing commercial relations with Europe. He soughtthe help of Nicholas Théodore Cornut, a surveyor specialist in military fortifications from Avignon, who was stronglyinfluenced by Vauban's defences at Saint­Malo. He partially dismantled the Portuguese fortress to build an esplanadewith a row of cannons, known as the Sqala. He laid out a checkerboard plan for the town with forts of Roussillon type,in the European tradition. The entire town was enclosed by a defensive wall on the Vauban model.

During the reign of this Sultan, Mogador assumed a major commercial and fiscal role. In order to control maritime trade,he closed the southern coast to European traders, obliging the European consuls at Safi, Agadir, and Rabat to move toMogador, where all southern mercantile activities were concentrated. The new port became one of the country's maincommercial centres; it was called "the port of Timbuktu," since it was the destination of caravans bringing a variety ofproducts (including slaves) from black Africa.

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The town was made up of three separate districts. The Kasbah comprised the old administrative district. The Medinawas built between the 18th century and the early 20th century. It was crossed by two main axial streets, one runningfrom Bab Doukalla to the harbour and the other from Bab Marrakech to the sea. At their intersection, known as SoukJdid, there were four markets, for fish, spices, grain, and general goods respectively. Each of the districts bears the nameof one of the tribes that were involved in the building of the town.

The Mellah is the Jewish quarter; it played a very important role in the history of the town, since the Sultan made use ofthis community to establish relations with Europe and to organize commercial activities with them. They were giventhe title of Toujjar Es­Sultan (Royal Merchants), giving them considerable economic and political privileges.

Source: Advisory Body Evaluation

Media

Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) (UNESCO/NHK)

News (1)

World Heritage Committee Inscribes 31 New Sites on the World Heritage List Thursday, December 13, 2001

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View photos from OUR PLACE the World Heritage collection

MoroccoProvince of Essaouira, Tensift RegionN31 31 0.012 W9 46 9.984Date of Inscription: 2001Criteria: (ii)(iv)Property : 30 ha Buffer zone: 15 haRef: 753rev

Media News LinksState of Conservation (SOC) by year2008 2006 2005 2004

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