Essaouira Things to Do

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You can't miss seeing Scala Kasbah and the fortress walls and canons when visiting Essaouira. Sure, it's a tourist thing and crowds to go with it...but definately worth seeing.

The Scala Kasbah was built by the French and the canons were a mixture of Portugese, Spanish and Dutch. It certainly looks intimidating perched on top of the hill overlooking the rocky coastline. If I was the enemy back in the old days....I'd give this place a miss :o)

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A must do in Essaouira - wander around the fishing port. Here you will see the locals bringing in their catch, nets, birds flying around, fresh fish smells and a hive of activity selling fresh fish etc.

Check out my travelogue for more.

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Original arts and crafts.

Gallerie L’Arbre Bleu, Essaouira.

If you like to see some fine arts and crafts – a little different from what you find in the shops elsewhere in the madina – a visit in atelier ”L’Arbre Bleu” can be recommended.

It is located in a small calm street in the madina, Rue Chbanat, near Bab Marrakech – right next to “the small” Bab Marrakech, very easy to find.

The creative french artist Monique Favière runs here a fine atelier & tea-salon.
She exposes her own works: Paintings, sculptures and different kind of crafts. You can also find fine works of moroccan artists, and some artists from other countries, living and working in Essaouira.
Everything in a very fine quality, so there is a lot to look at for no matter what kind of taste you have got.

In the nice little tea-salon you can take a break and maybe a little chat with Monique.

After visiting L’Arbre Bleu” a walk along Rue Chbanat to Bab Doukkala can be recommended – here you ca still find some original “Essaouira-atmosphere” and some nice small workshops with different kinds of crafts.

L’Arbre Bleu: www.galerielarbrebleu.com

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There are several hotels with pools in Essaouira, Top of the range is the Sofitel, Atlas Spa and Hotel des Isles. There is also an Ibis and Hotel ElJesira, there are others too. The beach is a wide curving bay with the port at one end and the dunes and village of Dibat at the other. There is an area that provide life guards but from what I have seen they are more interested in watching the girls rather than the bathers. Essaouira is famed for the wind which is perfect for kiting and surfing but not always ideal for sunbathing. Camel, Horse and dune buggy rides are available at the far end of the beach.

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If you want to experience a place in Essaouira, where there is a great knowlegde of cultural subjects, you can visit Dar Souiri, located right inside Bab Sbaa.
The house has over the years done a great work for the benefit of Essaouira -- especially concerning the cultural life.
In Dar Souiri you will find for instance a beautiful library with a fine collection of books -- covering many subjects -- as for instance books about Moroccan art and culture, with wonderful photoes. It's a realy nice place to spend a couple of peaceful hours -- and Fatima, a nice young woman working there, speaks english.
There is also always an exhibition going on -- of art or of a subject, concerning everyone -- like cilmate/ pollution.
There are many other activities going on in the house - you have to go and see it - and enjoy the beauty of the house.
In Dar Souiri you can have very qualified information about Essaouira -- especially on cultural subjects.
For the future there are plans of making a café / study on the roof - it will be great, from there you kan see the whole bay of Essaouira and the madina as well.

I have been going to Essaouira for over 10 years now. I have made so many friends, it feels like going home :)

One thing i often notice when i'm chatting with a friend, is that many tourist fail to enter a street not knowing if it actually goes somewhere or if it is a dead end ... and there are many dead ends.

Download this free map and you will no longer hesitate. This Essaouira Map has all the streets names and is perfect to get around and position yourself within the Medina.

http://e-essaouira.com/EssaouiraMedinaMap.html

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A very interesting place to visit in Essaouira is the house of AFBK - Association Feminine de Bienfaisance el Khier.
It is an organisatation providing help for women and children with social difficulties -- for instance left alone without husband or family.
AFBK has started a production of patisserie (moroccan cakes) - to create work for some of these women - and has also a small shop in the Madina, selling for instance craft made by the women.
In AFBK's house you can have a very fine course in making patisserie or in Moroccan cooking -- and if you are interested learn a little about the work of the organisatation.
Among other things AFBK has courses in French, English and Arabic.
It is very interesting to visit the house - located in Rue Regraga, near Avenue Al Masira, near Cinema RIF. Avenue Al Masira is one of the streets outside Bab Doukkala.
When you are there -- take your time to enjoy life in Ave Al Massira and the streets in the neigbourhood - take a cup of tea or coffee in on of the many small cafees - it's real Moroccan life here!

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In Essaouira you will find a very nice market for carfts -- Ensemble Artistanal. It is located right inside Bab Marrakech to the left.
In the market there is a beautiful square and surrounding this workshops with different kinds of craft: Bijouterie, wowen tissues, wood-works - and others. The things you can buy is of fine quality, and the prices are reasonable.
At the same time, you can be sure, that the the crafts are not produced using childrens labour.
In the workshops you can see how the things are made, the people working there like to tell about their work.