Kasbah, Agadir

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If you visit the Kasbah uphill, you can enter the gate and climb the stairs. After the earth quake of 1960 the ramparts were partially rebuilt, but hardly anything remains within the walls.

I visited the kasbah at a sunny sunday afternoon. Several Moroccan families and youngsters were visiting the inside of the kasbah, enjoying the views and the breeze. It's a more relaxed place to stay for a while for the views than outisde the gate with all the parked cars and people around.

From here you have also a view at the mountains at the other side of the kasbah. If you like to make a camelride -they are waiting for you outside the walls at the parkinglot- I saw they also walked around in this area behind the walls.

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Even if you are not interested in old ruined buildings, it´s worth to go uphill for the nice views at Agadir, the town and the beach. You have also a good overview of the area of the harbour and the shipyard with the ocean at the background.

At sunday afternoon lots of Moroccan families, but also tourists came uphill for the views, to enjoy the seabreeze and some for a camelride.

From the top of the hill I had a good view of the new complex of villas which is built between the beach and the harbour. It looks like very expensive housing. Everytime I come back in Agadir I see a lot of changes concerning new buldings, apartments and hotels. In 2007 the upgrading and construction of the boulevards along the beaches were in process by huge works over several KMs.

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From almost everywhere in town, beach and boulevard you can see or at least get a glimpse of the hill and the kasbah. It's an important landmark. During my first three visits to Agadir I didn't visit the kashab itself. It's a walk of about 7 km uphill. So, the best is to do is going by car or to take a taxi. Anyway up. I saw some people walking back downhill.

History of the Kasbah.
The ruined kasbah is built in 1540 by the Saadian Sultan Mohammed ech-Cheikh. Later in 1752 the kasbah was restored and regarrisoned by the Alawite Sultan Moulay Abdallah. Later the area is abandoned leaving housing for about 300 people. After the earth quake of 1960 only the ramparts were partially rebuilt.

Earthquake.
The area below the kasbah, Ancienne Tarborjt, covers the remains of the Agadirs medina after been totally devastated by the earthquake of 1960,now covered by soil and grass. Thousands of people died here by the earth quake.

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Near the quays of the port of Agadir we saw also a ship building yard. It was interesting to see the different phases of constructing the wooden carcass.

I visited the ship builiding yard in 1992, but in 2007 when I visited the kasbah, I saw that the ship building yard is still there at the same place (see picture 4).

At the background (picture 1) you see the hill with the Kasbah of Agadir. Only the ramparts were partially rebuilt after the earth quake of 1960, but noting remains within. At the foot of the Kasbah was the medina, now covered by soil and grass. Thousands of people died here by the earth quake.