Morocco Travel Guide

AREA

MUSEUM

PARK

PARK

KASBAH

HISTORIC    SITE

AREA

Marina

( 0661 21 57 46; off Ave Mohammed V) The city’s newest attraction is a billion-dirham
pleasure port between the beach and commercial port. As well as mooring for your floating
palace, the complex of faux white kasbahs has holiday apartments, shops (mostly international
brands), cafes, restaurants and boat trips for groups.

Mémoire d’Agadir

Offline map Google  map (    0528   82  16  32; cnr Ave du  Président   Kennedy &   Ave des FAR;

adult/child Dh20/10; 9.30am-12.30pm & 3-6pm Tue-Sat) This small museum in the
southwest corner of Jardin de Olhão, entered from outside the park, is dedicated to the 1960
earthquake. Displays include interesting photos of Agadir since the 1920s, while others show
the effects of the quake.

Jardin de Olhão

Offline map Google  map (Ave    du  Président   Kennedy;     2.30-6.30pm    Tue-Sun)    A   cool,   relaxing

garden created in 1992 to mark the twinning of Agadir with the Portuguese town of Olhão.

Vallée des Oiseaux

Offline map Google  map (Valley of  the Birds;   11am-6pm)  A   leafy   city-centre retreat in  the dry

riverbed running down from Blvd Hassan II to Blvd du 20 Août, with a shaded children’s
playground, aviary and small zoo.

Kasbah

(off Ave al-Moun) The hilltop kasbah, 7km northwest of the centre and visible from much of the
city, is a rare survivor of the earthquake. The views from up here of the port, marina and Agadir
are fantastic.

Built in 1541 by Saadian Sultan Mohammed ech-Cheikh, the kasbah was restored in the
1740s. The inscription over the entry arch in Dutch and Arabic (‘Believe in God and respect the
King’) is a reminder of the beginning of trade with the Low Countries. Events took a turn for the
worse in the 1750s when Agadir joined in a local revolt against the Alawite Sultan Moulay
Abdallah. His revenge was to garrison the kasbah, move the Jewish community to Essaouira
and forbid merchants to trade here. Later abandoned to the inhabitants of Agadir, the kasbah
once provided housing for nearly 300 people. All that remains is the outer wall, though traces of
the dwellings can still be made out.

The walk up to the kasbah is long, hot and uncomfortable: get a taxi (about Dh25) and walk
back down.

Ancienne Talborjt

(off Ave al-Moun) The grassy area below the kasbah covers the remains of old Agadir town
and constitutes a mass grave for all those who died in the 1960 earthquake.

Port

(off Ave Mohammed V) The commercial port is a good place to escape Agadir’s tourist haunts