 |
| Agadir |
With over 340 days of sunshine a year, it is no
wonder that Agadir, situated on the southern part of the Morocco's
Atlantic coastline, has become the country's number one tourist
centre. Some complain that Agadir is too modern and has become too
commercial, but in a country full of exotic flavour it is a pleasant
place to put your feet up and enjoy the comforts and services of
a Western-style tourist resort.
The beach, together with the weather, forms the
main attraction for thousands of sun worshippers, who come especially
in the winter months to escape the cold and gloom of northern Europe.
Around this, a resort town with restaurants, bars, cafés,
modern, comfortable hotels and a broad offer of water sports has
developed. Agadir thanks its modern look, with broad boulevards
and pedestrian walkways in part to the rapid development of this
tourist industry, but also to the powerful earthquake that destroyed
much of the old town in 1960.
Besides sunbathing and water sports, Agadir also
offers visitors golf courses, tennis clubs, horse riding and boat
trips out to sea, where schools of dolphins and whales can be spotted.
In the evening, the beachfront comes to life, with
crowds thronging the promenade lined with restaurants, cafés
and music bars.
As the most important of Morocco's fishing ports,
Agadir's harbour continues to bustle with activity as it has done
for centuries. The fish market and the 16th century Portuguese fort
are the popular attractions. The latter is the remnant of a prominent
Portuguese trading post, Santa Cruz de Capo Gere.
On first impression, the Kasbah looks uncannily
like a fortress. In fact, that is exactly how it started out. In
the 16th century, when the Berbers and Arabs were trying to drive
the Portuguese out of the Agadir, they captured the fortified granary
on this site and converted it into an artillery fortress from where
they could shell the Portuguese fort. The views down to the town
and bay are the best around.
Situated in the centre of town, in the municipal
park, this little museum offers a fascinating insight into the culture
and art of the Berbers, the original inhabitants not only of this
region, but all of Morocco. Stretching back thousands of years before
Islam arrived here, theirs is an ancient civilisation.
With a position between Morocco's two main mountain
ranges, the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas Mountains, Agadir is an excellent
place from which to set out on excursions into the countryside.
Imposing, snow-topped mountains, thundering waterfalls, tiny hamlets
and expansive palm groves are among the many sights, not to mention
seeing the Berber tribes in their home habitat.
 |
Booking.com
Range of Hotels in Agadir to suit all budgets. |
Back to top
|
Accommodation