Mogador

Mogador is the historical name for the Moroccan coastal city now called Essaouira, situated on the Atlantic Ocean in western Morocco. The city serves as the main port of Essaouira Province in the Marrakesh-Safi region and is known for its fortified medina and long seafront. The name Mogador appears in European maps and writings dating from the 16th through the 19th centuries.

Historically, a fortress and trading post stood at the site, established by Portuguese colonizers in the 16th century and later integrated into a Moroccan port city. In the 18th century, the Moroccan ruler Mohammed ben Abdallah directed the construction of a new fortified Atlantic port and medina, producing the compact, walled town that characterizes modern Essaouira. The name Mogador persisted in Western usage, while the town is locally known as Essaouira.

Essaouira’s Medina was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001 for its well-preserved fortifications and its example of a fortified Atlantic port that blends Moroccan and European architectural influences. The city is noted for its robust sea walls, the Skala de la Kasbah, and a grid of whitewashed houses with blue shutters along the coastal ramparts.

Today, the city combines fishing, craftwork and tourism. The port remains active with a fishing fleet and souks offering woodworking and inlaid thuya crafts. It is also known for cultural events, including the annual Gnaoua World Music Festival, and as a popular destination for windsurfing and other water sports due to the Atlantic winds.