Agadir, history of the city

The Portuguese settled there in 1513, but the holy war launched by the Saadians princes chased them in 1541 after a terrible six month siege.

Où dormir à Agadir? LOCATION MAROC

The Alaouites seized in their turn the city during the 18th century and, to punish their inhabitants, rebellious to their authority, decided to close the port and to transfer all the maritime activities to Essaouira, an action that will plunge Agadir in a lethargic sleep until the beginning of the 20th century.


In 1930, the city will become one of the stages of the Aerospatiale: Saint-Exupéry and Mermoz made stopover there before undertaking the crossing of the Atlantic. The terrible earthquake of February 1960 (which, in 15 seconds, buried 15 000 victims) is nothing more than a bad memory.


The city, which extends today to the old Kasbah, sees its population tripling since the cataclysm (current population: 350 000 inhabitants). Entirely rebuilt, Agadir became a modern city and highly appraised by the Moroccans who appreciate its cosmopolitan air.