Medina of Essaouira

The Medina of Essaouira, formerly Mogador, is a Medina quarter in Essaouira, Morocco. It was designated by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2001.

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. Early individuals responsible for the foundation and architecture of the city include Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah and architect Théodore Cornut. From 1767, Ahmed El Eulj managed the design of the city and medina.

Essaouira was a planned city, and the medina took on a degree of symmetry featuring four general quadrants. It was constructed to the limits of the rocky peninsula, and fortified city walls further define the boundaries of the medina. The fortified port, also an element of the medina, is detached from the walled portion by a stretch of land to the west. Churches and a palace were also historically located in this western portion, while the Jewish Quarter found itself within the walls of the medina. Other elements of the medina include city gates, towers, markets, and alleyways.