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MedinaofEssaouira(formerlyMogador)

Essaouiraisanexceptionalexampleofalate18thcenturyfortifiedtown,builtaccordingtotheprinciplesof
contemporaryEuropeanmilitaryarchitectureinaNorthAfricancontext.Sinceitsfoundation,ithasbeenamajor
internationaltradingseaport,linkingMoroccoanditsSaharanhinterlandwithEuropeandtherestoftheworld.
MdinadEssaouira(ancienneMogador)

EssaouiraestunexempleexceptionneldevillefortifiedelafinduXVIIIesicle,construiteenAfriqueduNordselon
lesprincipesdel'architecturemilitaireeuropennedel'poque.Depuissafondation,elleestresteunportdecommerce
internationaldepremierplanreliantleMarocetl'arrirepayssaharienl'Europeetaurestedumonde.
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source:UNESCO/ERI

18

source:UNESCO/ERI
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XVIII.,

.,

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source:UNESCO/ERI
MedinadeEsauira(AntiguaMogador)

EsauiraesunejemploexcepcionaldeplazafuerteconstruidaenfricadelNorteconarregloalosprincipiosdela
arquitecturamilitareuropeadefinalesdelsigloXVIII.Desdesufundacin,laciudadhasidounpuertodeprimera
importanciaparaelcomerciodeMarruecosysusterritoriossaharianosconEuropayelrestodelmundo.
source:UNESCO/ERI

1765
18

source:NFUAJ
MedinavanEssaouira(voorheenMogador)

DemedinavanEssaouiravoorheenMogadorgeheten,watkleinfortbetekentiseenuitstekendvoorbeeldvaneen
laat18eeeuwseversterktestad,omgevendooreenmuur.Destadisgebouwdvolgensdeprincipesvandehedendaagse
EuropesemilitairearchitectuurineenNoordAfrikaansecontext.Essaouiraissindshaarstichtingeengrotezeehaven
geweestvoorinternationalehandeltussenMarokkoensubSaharaAfrika,enEuropaenderestvandewereld.Destad
iseenvoorbeeldvaneenmulticultureelcentrum,waardiverseetnischegroepenzoalsImazighen,Arabieren,Afrikanen
enEuropeanenenreligieuzegroeperingenmoslims,christenenenJodenvanafhetbegininharmoniesamenleven.
Source:unesco.nl
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MedinaofEssaouira(formerlyMogador)Unesco
OutstandingUniversalValue
Briefsynthesis

TheMedinaofEssaouira,formerlynamedMogador(nameoriginatingfromthePhoenicianwordMigdolmeaninga
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smallfortress),isanoutstandingexampleofafortifiedtownofthemideighteenthcentury,surroundedbyawall
influencedbytheVaubanmodel.ConstructedaccordingtotheprinciplesofcontemporaryEuropeanmilitary
architecture,inaNorthAfricancontext,inperfectharmonywiththepreceptsofAraboMuslimarchitectureandtown
planning,ithasplayedamajorroleoverthecenturiesasaninternationaltradingseaport,linkingMoroccoandsub
SaharanAfricawithEuropeandtherestoftheworld.Thetownisalsoanexampleofamulticulturalcentreasproven
bythecoexistence,sinceitsfoundation,ofdiverseethnicgroups,suchastheAmazighs,Arabs,Africans,and
Europeansaswellasmulticonfessional(Muslim,ChristianandJewish).IndissociablefromtheMedina,theMogador
archipelagocomprisesalargenumberofculturalandnaturalsitesofOutstandingUniversalValue.Itsrelativelylate
foundationincomparisontoothermedinasofNorthAfricawastheworkoftheAlaouiteSultanSidiMohamedBen
Abdallah(17571790)whowishedtomakethissmallAtlantictownaroyalportandchiefMoroccancommercial
centreopentotheoutsideworld.KnownforalongtimeasthePortofTimbuktu,Essaouirabecameoneofthemajor
AtlanticcommercialcentresbetweenAfricaandEuropeattheendofthe18thcenturyandduringthe19thcentury.
Criterion(ii):Essaouiraisanoutstandingandwellpreservedexampleofamid18thcenturyfortifiedseaporttown,
withastrongEuropeaninfluencetranslatedtoaNorthAfricancontext.
Criterion(iv):WiththeopeningofMoroccototherestoftheworldattheendofthe17thcentury,theMedinaof
EssaouirawaslaidoutbyaFrencharchitectwhohadbeenprofoundlyinfluencedbytheworkofthemilitaryengineer
VaubanatSaintMalo.Forthemostpart,ithasretaineditsappearanceofaEuropeantown.
Integrity(2009)

Alreadycompletedbythe19thcenturyandclearlydefinedbyitsramparts,theMedinaofEssaouirapossessesallthe
essentialcomponentsforitsintegrity.Comprisingaharmoniousensembleassociatedwithnaturalelements(Mogador
Archipelago)andhighqualityculturalelements,thetowntodayretainsitsintegrityanditsoriginaldistinctivestyle.
Despiteitsintegritybeingslightlyaltered,notablyduetodegradationofbuildingsintheMellahdistrict,thedegreeof
lossdoesnotcompromisethesignificanceofthepropertyasawhole.
ThestateofconservationoftheMedinaofEssaouiraisincreasinglyimprovedduetotheeffortsofthelocalauthorities
andthevigilanceoftheauthoritiesdirectlyconcernedwithitsprotectionandpresentation.
Authenticity(2009)

Foundedinthemiddleofthe18thcentury,theMedinaofEssaouirahasforthemostpartconserveditsauthenticityas
regardstheconceptionandoutlineaswellasthematerials(useoflocalstonecalledmanjour)andconstruction
methods,andthisinspiteofsomeinadequateuseofmodernmaterialsforrepairandreconstructionwork.
Notwithstandingtheseaswellanddampnesselsewhere,thefortificationsandurbanfabricconserve,onthewhole,their
originalconfiguration.
Protectionandmanagementrequirements(2009)
Protectionmeasuresessentiallyrelatetothedifferentlawsforlistingofhistoricmonumentsandsites,andparticularly
theLaw2280concerningtheMoroccanheritage.Ownershipoftheelementsthatmakeupthehistorictownof
EssaouiraisdividedbetweentheState,themunicipality,theHabous,theIsraeliteAlliance,cooperativesandprivate
individuals.The1988urbanplanNo.4001providesforabufferzonearoundthehistorictownwithinwhich
constructionisprohibited.Twosignificantprotectionandmanagementmeasuresarecurrentlyinthefinalstagesof
application.ThesearetheMasterPlanforUrbanDevelopmentofthetownofEssaouiraandtheSafeguardingPlanfor
theMedina.
Thelocalpopulation,thepublicauthoritiesandtheassociativeareasareincreasinglyawareoftheOutstanding
UniversalValueoftheMedina.TheEssaouiraUrbanAgencywascreatedtoensureabettercontroloftown
developmentingeneralandthemedinainparticular.Inparallelwithotherministerialdepartmentsandservices,this
Agencyshould,planandcoordinateeffortsandmonitortheexecutionandimplementationoftheongoingorplanned
worksites.Contingentupontheestablishmentofamanagementplanforthemedinathatshouldbothsafeguardthe
architecturalheritageandimprovethelivingconditionsofthelocalpopulation,theauthoritiesconcernedforthe
protectionandsafeguardofthepropertymustsupervisetheapplicationofthedevelopmentplanforthemedinaandthe
entiretownofEssaouira
LongDescription

Essaouiraisanoutstandingandwellpreservedexampleofalate18thcenturyEuropeanfortifiedseaporttown
translatedtoaNorthAfricancontext.WiththeopeningupofMoroccototherestoftheworldinthelater17thcentury,
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thetownwaslaidoutbyaFrencharchitectwhohadbeenprofoundlyinfluencedbytheworkofVaubanatSaintMalo.
IthasretaineditsEuropeanappearancetoasubstantialextent.
Sinceitsfoundationinthe18thcenturyanduntilthebeginningofthe20thcentury,Essaouirahasplayeda
fundamentalroleasaninternationaltradingportbetweenMoroccoandtherestoftheworld.Anumberofconsulates
andtradersfromdifferentcountrieswereestablishedthere.Essaouiraisaleadingexampleofbuildinginspiredby
Europeanarchitecture,atownuniquebyvirtueofitsdesign:itwascreatedinconformitywithapredeterminedplan,
theCornutplan.Sincethebeginning,themedinaofEssaouirahasbeenamajorplaceforthepeaceablecomingtogether
ofthearchitecturalandtownplanningmodelsofEuropeandofMoroccoitself.Inthiswayasymbiosiswasachieved
betweenbuildingtechniquesfromMoroccoandelsewherethatgavebirthtosomeuniquearchitecturalmasterpieces:
theSqalasoftheportandofthemedina,theBabMarrakeshbastion,thewatergate,mosques,synagogues,churches,
etc.
ArchaeologicalexcavationshaveshownthatthesiteofEssaouirawasoriginallyaPhoeniciantradingsettlement,
followedbyCretans,GreeksandRomans.TheearliernameofMogadorderivesfromMigdol,meaningasmallfort.In
1506itwastobecomethesiteofaPortuguesefortress,butthiswasabandonedsoonafter.
Thepresenttowndatesfrom1765,whentheAlawiteSultanSidiMohamedbenAbdellahdecidedtobuildaportthat
wouldopenMoroccouptotheoutsideworldandassistindevelopingcommercialrelationswithEurope.Hesought
thehelpofNicholasThodoreCornut,asurveyorspecialistinmilitaryfortificationsfromAvignon,whowasstrongly
influencedbyVauban'sdefencesatSaintMalo.HepartiallydismantledthePortuguesefortresstobuildanesplanade
witharowofcannons.TheentiretownwasenclosedbyadefensivewallontheVaubanmodel.Inordertocontrol
maritimetrade,heclosedthesoutherncoasttoEuropeantraders,obligingtheEuropeanconsulsatSafi,Agadirand
RabattomovetoMogador,whereallsouthernmercantileactivitieswereconcentrated.Thenewportbecameoneofthe
country'smaincommercialcentresitwascalledthe'portofTimbuktu'asitwasthedestinationofcaravansbringinga
varietyofproducts(includingslaves)fromblackAfrica.Thetownwasmadeupofthreeseparatedistricts.Thekasbah
comprisedtheoldadministrativedistrict.Themedinawascrossedbytwomainaxialstreets,onerunningfromBab
DoukallatotheharbourandtheotherfromBabMarrakeshtothesea.Attheirintersectiontherewerefourmarkets,for
fish,spices,grainandgeneralgoodsrespectively.
TheMellahistheJewishquarteritplayedaveryimportantroleinthehistoryofthetown,asthesultanmadeuseof
thiscommunitytoestablishrelationswithEuropeandtoorganizecommercialactivitieswiththem.Themainfeatures
ofthetownare:theramparts,mostofthenorthernsectionofwhichsurvivesthetowngates,especiallytheornamental
SeaGate(117071)thebastionsandforts(borjs),especiallytheSqalaofthePortandtheSqalaoftheMedinaandthe
BastionofBabMarrakeshthekasbah,whichwasoriginallytheseatofpowerandthemilitarygarrison,andisnow
integratedintothetownpropertheMellah(Jewishquarter),whichretainsmanyofitsoriginalspecialfeaturesthe
prison,locatedontheoffshoreisland(nowarefugeforrarebirds,suchashawks)themanymosques,inacharacteristic
style,andespeciallythemosquesoftheCasbahandBenYossefthesynagogues(inparticularthe19thcentury
synagogueofSimonAttias),whichpreservethedynamismoftheJewishinhabitantsthelate18thcenturyPortuguese
churchtheDarSultan(oldRoyalPalace)andtheveryattractiveprivatehouses.
Source:UNESCO/CLT/WHC
HistoricalDescription

ArchaeologicalexcavationshaveshownthatthesiteofEssaouirawasoriginallyaPhoeniciantradingsettlementthey
werefollowedbyCretans,Greeks,andRomans.TheearliernameofMogadorderivesfromMigdol,meaningasmall
fort.In1506itwastobecomethesiteofaPortuguesefortress,butthiswasabandonedsoonafter.
Thepresenttowndatesfrom1765,whentheAlaouiteSultanSidiMohamedbenAbdellahdecidedtobuildaportthat
wouldopenMoroccouptotheoutsideworldandassistindevelopingcommercialrelationswithEurope.Hesought
thehelpofNicholasThodoreCornut,asurveyorspecialistinmilitaryfortificationsfromAvignon,whowasstrongly
influencedbyVauban'sdefencesatSaintMalo.HepartiallydismantledthePortuguesefortresstobuildanesplanade
witharowofcannons,knownastheSqala.HelaidoutacheckerboardplanforthetownwithfortsofRoussillontype,
intheEuropeantradition.TheentiretownwasenclosedbyadefensivewallontheVaubanmodel.
DuringthereignofthisSultan,Mogadorassumedamajorcommercialandfiscalrole.Inordertocontrolmaritimetrade,
heclosedthesoutherncoasttoEuropeantraders,obligingtheEuropeanconsulsatSafi,Agadir,andRabattomoveto
Mogador,whereallsouthernmercantileactivitieswereconcentrated.Thenewportbecameoneofthecountry'smain
commercialcentresitwascalled"theportofTimbuktu,"sinceitwasthedestinationofcaravansbringingavarietyof
products(includingslaves)fromblackAfrica.
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Thetownwasmadeupofthreeseparatedistricts.TheKasbahcomprisedtheoldadministrativedistrict.TheMedina
wasbuiltbetweenthe18thcenturyandtheearly20thcentury.Itwascrossedbytwomainaxialstreets,onerunning
fromBabDoukallatotheharbourandtheotherfromBabMarrakechtothesea.Attheirintersection,knownasSouk
Jdid,therewerefourmarkets,forfish,spices,grain,andgeneralgoodsrespectively.Eachofthedistrictsbearsthename
ofoneofthetribesthatwereinvolvedinthebuildingofthetown.
TheMellahistheJewishquarteritplayedaveryimportantroleinthehistoryofthetown,sincetheSultanmadeuseof
thiscommunitytoestablishrelationswithEuropeandtoorganizecommercialactivitieswiththem.Theyweregiven
thetitleofToujjarEsSultan(RoyalMerchants),givingthemconsiderableeconomicandpoliticalprivileges.
Source:AdvisoryBodyEvaluation
Media

MedinaofEssaouira(formerlyMogador)(UNESCO/NHK)
News

(1)

WorldHeritageCommitteeInscribes31NewSitesontheWorldHeritageListThursday,December13,2001
Links

ViewphotosfromOURPLACEtheWorldHeritagecollection
Morocco
ProvinceofEssaouira,TensiftRegion
N31310.012W9469.984
DateofInscription:2001
Criteria:(ii)(iv)
Property:30ha
Bufferzone:15ha
Ref:753rev

Imagerie 2015 TerraMetrics

MediaNewsLinks
StateofConservation(SOC)byyear
2008200620052004

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