Agadir

This article is about the city in Morocco. For Amazigh granaries, seeAgadir (granary).For the Phoenician and Carthaginian port in Spain, seeCadiz.For the 1911 international crisis, seeAgadir Crisis.

Agadir أكادير(Arabic) ⴰⴳⴰⴷⵉⵔ(Tachelhit)
Top:View towardsAgadir Oufla,Middle:View of the ocean Bottom:Agadir Marina
Flag
Agadir Location in Morocco Agadir Agadir (Africa)
Coordinates:30°25′17″N9°34′59″W
Country	Morocco
Region	Souss-Massa
Prefecture	Agadir-Ida Ou Tanane
Area
• Land	51.2 km2(19.8 sq mi)
Elevation	74 m (243 ft)
Population (2014)
• Total	487,954
• Rank	10th in Morocco
Time zone	UTC+1(CET)
Website	Agadir(in Arabic and French)

Agadir(Arabic:أكادير,romanized:ʾagādīr,pronounced[ʔaɡaːdiːr];Tachelhit:ⴰⴳⴰⴷⵉⵔ) is a majorcityinMorocco,on the shore of theAtlantic Oceannear the foot of theAtlas Mountains,just north of the point where theSouss Riverflows into the ocean, and 509 kilometres (316 mi) south ofCasablanca.Agadir is the capital of theAgadir Ida-U-Tanan Prefectureand of theSouss-Massaeconomic region.

Agadir is one of the major urban centres of Morocco. The municipality of Agadir recorded a population of 924,000 in the2014 Moroccan census.According to the 2004 census, there were 346,106 inhabitants in that yearand the population of the Prefecture of Agadir-Ida Outanane was 487,954 inhabitants.

Agadir is known for being the capital ofAmazighculture in Morocco.It is one of the few big Moroccan cities whereTamazight,one of Morocco's two official languages, is spoken by more than half of the population. The native variety to the region,Tachelhit,is spoken by 222,000 speakers,representing 53.7% of the entire population.Agadir is also a place for many festivals related to Amazigh culture, such as TheNew Amazigh Year,celebrated on 13 January every year throughout the city, especially in the downtown area.TheBilmawen Festivalis another old Berber tradition celebrated in the suburbs of the city.Additionally, the Issni N’Ourgh International festival is a festival for Amazigh films.Agadir is also the birthplace of many of the pillars ofShilhaandAmazighmusic, such asIzenzaren,Oudaden,and many others.

It was the site of the 1911Agadir Crisisthat exposed tensions between France and Germany, foreshadowing World War I. The city was destroyed byan earthquakein 1960; it has been completely rebuilt with mandatory seismic standards. It is now the largestseaside resortin Morocco, where foreign tourists and many residents are attracted by an unusually mild year-round climate. Since 2010 it has been well served by low-cost flights and a motorway fromTangier.

The mild winter climate (January average midday temperature 20.5 °C/69 °F)and good beaches have made it a major "winter sun" destination for northern Europeans.

Etymology

The nameAgadiris a common Berber noun, meaning 'wall, enclosure, fortified building, citadel'. This noun is attested in most Berber languages.It may come from theTuaregwordaǧādir('wall' or 'bank')or fromPhoeniciangadir('wall' or 'fortress').The former word may also be a loanword from the latter.The Phoenician etymology, if correct, would be the same as that ofCádizin Spain.

There are many more towns in Morocco called Agadir.The city of Agadir's full name inTashelhitisAgadir IghirorAgadir-n-Irir,literally 'the fortress of the cape',referring to the nearby promontory named Cape Ighir on maps (apleonasticname, literally 'Cape Cape').

History

Early occupation

The oldest known map that includes an indication of Agadir is from 1325: at the approximate location of the modern city, it names a place it callsPorto Mesegina,after a Berber tribe name that had been recorded as early as the 12th century, theMesguina(also known as theKsima).At the end of the medieval period, Agadir was a town of some renown. The first known mention of its name,Agadir al-harba,was recorded in 1510.

Portuguese occupation

In the late 15th century thePortuguesebegan to occupy positions along the Moroccan coast. In 1505 the Portuguese nobleman João Lopes de Sequeira occupied the area.He built a wooden castle at the foot of a hill, near aspring,and a Portuguese colony namedSanta Cruz do Cabo do Guéwas created.The site still bears the name of Funtior Founti (from the Portuguese wordfonte,meaning "fountain" ). The castle was later bought by the King of Portugal on 25 January 1513.

The Portuguese presence elicited growing hostility from the local population of theSousregion, who initiated a years-long economic and military blockade of the port. In 1510Muhammad al-Qa'im,the leader of a Sharifian family in that had established themselves in the Sous, was declared leader of the local military efforts against the Sous.His descendants went on to found theSa'di dynastywhich rose to power over the following decades and eventually established their capital atMarrakesh.In 1540 the Sa'di sultanMuhammad al-Shaykhoccupied the main hill (nowAgadir Oufla) above the Portuguese and installedartilleryto prepare an attack on the fortress below. Thesiege of the colonybegan on 16 February 1541 and was successfully concluded on 12 March of the same year.

Six hundred Portuguese survivors were taken prisoner, including the governor,Guterre de Monroy,and his daughter,Dona Mecia.The captives were redeemed by the holy men, who were mostly from Portugal. Dona Mecia, whose husband was killed during the battle, became the wife of Sheikh Mohammed ash-Sheikh but died in childbirth in 1544. In the same year, Mohammed ash-Sheikh released Guterre de Monroy, whom he had befriended.After this, the Portuguese were forced to abandon most of the Moroccan areas that they had acquired control of between 1505 and 1520, including Agadir,SafiandAzemmour.By 1550, Portugal's only holding in Morocco was Mazagan (nowEl Jadida),TangierandCeuta.As Morocco became less important to the Portuguese, they turned their attention to India and Brazil.

The story of the Portuguese presence (from the installation in 1505 until their defeat on 12 March 1541) is described in a manuscript (published for the first time, with a French translation byPierre de Cenival,in 1934) entitled "Este He O Origem e Comeco e Cabo da Villa de Santa Cruz do Cabo de Gue D'Agoa de Narba", written by an anonymous author who was captured in 1934and was imprisoned for five years inTaroudannt(cf. "Santa Cruz do Cabo de Gue d'Agoa de Narba – Estudo e Crónica", Joao Marinho e Santos, José Manuel Azevedo e Silva e Mohammed Nadir, bilingual edition, Viseu 2007).

Moroccan rule

After the Sa'di victory the site was then left unoccupied for years until Muhammad al-Shaykh's successor,Abdallah al-Ghalib(r. 1557–1574), built a new fortress (orkasbah) on the hilltop.It was now calledAgadir N'Ighir(literally: "fortified granary of the hill" inTachelhit.

In the 17th century, during the reign of the Berber dynasty ofTazerwalt,Agadir was a harbour of some importance, expanding its trade with Europe. There was, however, neither a real port nor a wharf. Agadir traded mainly in sugar, wax, copper, hides and skins.In exchange, Europeans sold their manufactured goods there, particularly weapons and textiles. Under the reign of SultanMoulay Ismail(1645–1727) and his successors, the trade with France, which had previously been an active partner, diminished, and trade with the English and Dutch increased.

The entrance of the Kasbah

In 1731, the town was completely destroyed by an earthquake.After that, Agadir's harbour was ordered to be closed, and an alternative,Essaouira,was established farther north.

After a long period of prosperity during the reigns of the Saadian and Alawite dynasties, Agadir declined from 1760 because of the pre-eminence given to the competing port of Essaouira by the Alawite SultanMohammed ben Abdallahwho wanted to punish the Souss for rebelling against his authority. This decline lasted a century and a half. In 1789, a European traveler gave a brief description of Agadir: "It is now a ghost town, there are no more than a few houses and these are crumbling into ruins".

In 1881, SultanMoulay Hassanreopened the harbour to trade in order to supply the expeditions he planned in the south. These expeditions, which were to reassert his authority over the Souss tribes and counter the plans of English and Spanish, were held in 1882 and 1886.

Map of Agadir in 1885 by Jules Erckmann

In 1884,Charles de Foucaulddescribed inReconnaissance au Maroc(Reconnaissance in Morocco) his rapid passage to Agadir from the east:

I walk along the shore to Agadir Irir. The road passes below the city, half-way between it and Founti: Founti is a miserable hamlet, a few fishermen's huts; Agadir, despite its white enclosure which gives it the air of a city is, I am told, a poor village depopulated and without trade.

On the pretext of a call for help from German companies in the valley of the Souss, Germany decided on 1 July 1911, to extend its interests in Morocco and assert a claim on the country. It sent to the bay of Agadir, (which harbour was, until 1881, closed to foreign trade) theSMSPantherwhich was quickly joined by the cruiserBerlin.Very strong international reaction, particularly from Great Britain, surprised Germany and triggered theAgadir Crisisbetween France and Germany. War threatened. After tough negotiations, a Franco-German treaty was finally signed on 4 November 1911, giving a free hand to France, who would be able to establish itsprotectorateover Morocco in return for giving up some colonies in Africa. It was only then that the gunboatPantherand the cruiserBerlinleft the bay of Agadir. Due to a miscalculation, the German sales representativeHermann Wilberg,who was sent to provide the pretext for the intervention, only arrived at Agadir three days after thePantherarrived.

In 1913, the cities (Agadir N'Ighir and Founti) totaled less than a thousand inhabitants. On 15 June 1913 French troops landed in Agadir. In 1916, the first pier was built near Founti – a simple jetty, later known as the "Portuguese jetty", which remained until the end of the 20th century. After 1920, under the French protectorate, a port was built and the city saw its first development with the construction of the old Talborjt district located on the plateau at the foot of the hill. Two years later, beside Talborjt along the faultline of the river Tildi construction of the popular district of Yahchech began.

Around 1930, Agadir was an important stop for the French airmail serviceAéropostaleand was frequented bySaint-ExupéryandMermoz.

In the years from 1930, a modern central city began to be built according to the plans of the urban plannerHenri Prost,director of the Urban Planning Department of the Protectorate, and his deputyAlbert Laprade:a horseshoe layout based on the waterfrontaround a large avenue perpendicular to the waterfront – the Avenue Lyautey, since renamed Avenue du Général Kettani. In the 1950s, urban development continued under the direction of the Director of Urban Planning Morocco, Michel Ecochard.

After 1950 and the opening of the new commercial port, the city grew with fishing, canning, agriculture, and mining. It also began to open up to tourism due to its climate and hotel infrastructure.Several years later from 1950 to 1956 Agadir organized theGrand Prix of Agadirand, from 1954 to 1956, theMoroccan Grand Prix.

In 1959, the port was visited by the yacht of the Greek shipping magnateAristotle Onassisand his guest,Winston Churchill.

By 1960, Agadir numbered over 40,000 residents when at 15 minutes to midnight on 29 February 1960, it was again almost totally destroyed by anearthquakeof magnitude 5.7 on the Richter scale that lasted 15 seconds, burying the city and killing more than a third of the population.The death toll was estimated at 15,000.The earthquake destroyed the old Kasbah.

Agadir after 1960

Agadir in 1960, following the earthquake

The current city was rebuilt 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) further south, led by the architects associated withGAMMA,includingJean-François Zevaco,Elie Azagury,Pierre Coldefy,andClaude Verdugo,with consultation fromLe Corbusier.Agadir became a large city of over half a million by 2004, with a large port with four basins: the commercial port with a draft of 17 metres, triangle fishing, fishing port, and a pleasure boat port with marina. Agadir was the premier sardine port in the world in the 1980s and has a beach stretching over 10 km with fine seafront promenades. Its climate has 340 days of sunshine per year which allows for swimming all year round. The winter is warm and in summer, haze is common.

With Marrakech, Agadir is a very important centre for tourism to Morocco, and the city is the most important fishing port in the country. Business is also booming with the export of citrus fruit and vegetables produced in the fertile valley ofSouss.

On 12 December 2022, an earthquake of magnitude 4.5 hit Agadir Province. The earthquake struck at a depth of three kilometres beneath the epicentre, off the coast of Agadir.

Geography

Agadir Bay, view fromAgadir Oufla.

The current conurbation of Agadir is actually a combination of four communes:

• the former town of Agadir city
• the urban commune of Anza
• the rural town of Bensergao
• the rural town of Tikiwine

New Talborjt

This area is named after the old district of Talborjt (meaning "small fort" in local Berber, in remembrance of thewater towerwhich was first built on the plateau in the former Talborjt). Lively, the New Talborjt which has been rebuilt away from the Old Talborjt, has as the main artery the Boulevard Mohammed Sheikh Saadi, named after the victor against the Portuguese in 1541. Other major avenues are the Avenue President Kennedy and the Avenue 29 February. There is also the Mohammed V mosque, theOlhão garden(Olhãois a coastal city in southern Portugal that is twinned with Agadir), and its memorial museum and the Garden Ibn Zaydoun. Some good hotels and restaurants have been built on the main arteries.

Residential districts

• Swiss Village:the oldest district of villas bordered by the Avenue of FAR (Royal Armed Forces), Avenue Mokhtar Soussi, Cairo Avenue, and the Avenue of the United Nations.
• Mixed Sector District (THE NEW IHCHACH):the French and Spanish Consulates are in this district.
• Fountyor "Bay of palm trees": a seaside area with residential villas, large hotels, holiday homes, and the royal palace.
• High Founty:a new district of buildings and residential villas, located in the new city centre between the new Court of Appeal and the Marjane supermarket.
• Illigh:to the east in front of the Hassan II hospital, is a residential area of large villas, housing the "new bourgeoisie".
• Charaf:The Hassan II hospital is in this district.
• Les Amicales:also known as the "city of government employees"
• Dakhla:close to theIbn Zohr University,it has a mix between modern buildings, ordinary villas, and studio apartments. This new town created in 1979 was the last work before his death of the renowned French urbanist, Gérald Hanning.
• Hay Mohammadi:a new urbanization zone in Agadir with a villa zone and a zone for large groups of buildings to frame the extension of the Avenue des FAR in the northwest.
• Adrar City:a new district next to the Metro hypermarket.
• Other neighbourhoods:Amsernat, Lakhyam, Erac Bouargane, Massira, Essalam, Tilila, Tassila, Bensergao, Riad Assalam, Islane, Ihchach (Yachech) Nahda, Anza, Assaka, Bir Anzarane, Tikouine, Zaitoune, Taddart and El Houda.

The Casbah

Hill of the old Casbah ofAgadir Oufla

Agadir Ouflaat Night

TheCasbah(Agadir Oufla,Agadir le haut,Agadir N'Ighir,orAgadir de la colline) was, along with Founti by the sea, the oldest district of Agadir. An authentic fortress with winding streets and lively, the Casbah was built in 1572 byAbdallah al-Ghalib.Above the front door; today, the original inscription in Arabic and in English reads: "God, the Nation, the King."

Of this fortress there remains, after the earthquake of 29 February 1960, a restored long high wall that surrounds land that is not buildable. There is, however, a view over the bay of Agadir and the ports. The old people of Agadir remember the "Moorish café" of the Casbah and its panoramic view.

The hill bears the inscription in Arabic: "God, Country, King" which, like the walls, is illuminated at night.

Old Talborjt

Overlooking the waterfront and Wadi Tildi, this old district (whose name is sometimes spelledTalbordjt) was once a shopping area and very lively with its large square where there was a weekly market, hotels, schools, mosque.90% of the buildings in Old Talborjt were destroyed or severely damaged by the earthquake in 1960. Razed to the ground after the earthquake and now overgrown, it is classified as non-buildable area. Its main thoroughfare, the Avenue El Moun stretches over 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) and serves only for driving schools that teach their students to drive.

Souk El Had

This is the largest market in the region. It has about 6,000 small shops. It is surrounded by walls and has several entrances. It is organized into different sectors: furniture, crafts, clothing, vegetables, meat, spices etc. It is possible to find all kinds of handicrafts and traditional decorations.

The walls have been restored and the interior design is being finished.

La Médina

La Médina.

La Médinais a handicrafts space created in 1992 by the Italian artist Coco Polizzi, at Ben Sergao, a district close to Agadir 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) from the city centre. Built using techniques of traditional Berber construction, it is a kind of small open-air museum, on five hectares and home to artisan workshops, a museum, individual residences, a small hotel, and an exotic garden.

Subdivisions

The prefecture is divided administratively into communes.

Name	Geographic code	Type	Households	Population (2004)	Foreign population	Moroccan population	Notes
Agadir	001.01.01.	Municipality	77485	346106	1925	344181
Amskroud	001.05.01.	Rural commune	1687	10020	0	10020
Aourir	001.05.03.	Rural commune	5571	27483	55	27428	21,810 residents live in the centre, calledAourir;5673 residents live in rural areas.
Aqesri	001.05.05.	Rural commune	857	4873	0	4873
Aziar	001.05.07.	Rural commune	688	3803	0	3803
Drargua	001.05.09.	Rural commune	6910	37115	1	37114	17,071 residents live in the centre, calledDrargua;20044 residents live in rural areas.
Idmine	001.05.11.	Rural commune	671	4279	0	4279
Imouzzer	001.05.13.	Rural commune	1153	6351	0	6351
Imsouane	001.05.15.	Rural commune	1704	9353	0	9353
Tadrart	001.05.21.	Rural commune	1008	5703	0	5703
Taghazout	001.05.23.	Rural commune	999	5348	16	5332
Tamri	001.05.25.	Rural commune	2927	17442	8	17434
Tiqqi	001.05.29.	Rural commune	1735	10078	0	10078

Climate

Sunset in Agadir

Agadir has asemi-arid climate(Köppen:BSh) with warm summers and mild winters. Located along the Atlantic Ocean, Agadir has a very mild climate. The daytime temperature generally stays in the 20s °C (70s °F) every day with averages around 27 °C (81 °F), with the winter highs typically reaching 21 °C (70 °F) in January.

Rainfall is almost entirely confined to the winter months and is heavily influenced bythe NAO,with negative NAO indices producing wet winters and positive NAO correlating with drought. For instance, in the wettest month on record of December 1963, as much as 314.7 millimetres or 12.39 inches fell, whereas in the positive NAO year from July 1960 to June 1961 a mere 46.7 millimetres or 1.84 inches occurred over the twelve months.The wettest year has been from July 1955 to June 1956 with 455.5 millimetres or 17.93 inches.

Occasionally however, the region experiences winds from the Sahara calledChergui,which may exceptionally and for two to five days raise the heat above 40 °C (104 °F). The confirmed record high temperature was 50.4 °C (122.7 °F) set on 12 August 2023.This makes Agadir one of few coastal locations in the world to have recorded a temperature above 50 °C. The record of 51.7 °C degrees, which was on 19 August 1940, is disputed.

In 1950, a poster from the Navigation Company Pacquet proclaimed: "Winter or summer, I bathe in Agadir".

Climate data for Agadir (Inezgane) (1991–2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	31.9 (89.4)	36.0 (96.8)	38.2 (100.8)	40.0 (104.0)	46.1 (115.0)	46.7 (116.1)	48.5 (119.3)	50.4 (122.7)	43.5 (110.3)	42.6 (108.7)	38.0 (100.4)	33.6 (92.5)	50.4 (122.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	21.2 (70.2)	22.0 (71.6)	23.4 (74.1)	23.2 (73.8)	24.2 (75.6)	25.6 (78.1)	26.7 (80.1)	27.0 (80.6)	26.1 (79.0)	26.1 (79.0)	24.1 (75.4)	22.1 (71.8)	24.3 (75.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)	14.8 (58.6)	16.1 (61.0)	17.9 (64.2)	18.7 (65.7)	20.1 (68.2)	21.9 (71.4)	23.0 (73.4)	23.3 (73.9)	22.3 (72.1)	21.4 (70.5)	18.5 (65.3)	16.1 (61.0)	19.5 (67.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	8.4 (47.1)	10.1 (50.2)	12.3 (54.1)	14.1 (57.4)	15.9 (60.6)	18.1 (64.6)	19.2 (66.6)	19.5 (67.1)	18.6 (65.5)	16.7 (62.1)	12.9 (55.2)	10.1 (50.2)	14.7 (58.4)
Record low °C (°F)	1.1 (34.0)	2.4 (36.3)	5.3 (41.5)	4.4 (39.9)	8.9 (48.0)	12.9 (55.2)	13.0 (55.4)	14.6 (58.3)	12.1 (53.8)	9.5 (49.1)	1.6 (34.9)	2.2 (36.0)	1.1 (34.0)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches)	32.0 (1.26)	28.6 (1.13)	31.3 (1.23)	13.8 (0.54)	5.6 (0.22)	0.8 (0.03)	0.2 (0.01)	3.1 (0.12)	3.7 (0.15)	21.2 (0.83)	42.3 (1.67)	49.0 (1.93)	231.6 (9.12)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1 mm)	2.8	2.7	3.2	1.7	0.8	0.2	0.1	0.3	0.5	1.9	3.0	3.6	20.8
Mean monthlysunshine hours	234.6	224.8	266.8	273.5	297.1	266.8	252.7	247.6	234.5	242.2	228.1	221.8	2,990.5
Percentpossible sunshine	74	73	73	71	71	64	59	61	64	70	73	71	68
Source: NOAA (sun 1981–2010),(February record high)

Economy

Agadir Marina

The city had an annual growth rate of over 6% per year in housing demand while housing production barely exceeds 3.4%.

Agadir's economy relies mainly on tourism and fisheries. Agricultural activities are based around the city.Agadir has one of the biggest souks in Morocco (Souk El Had).

Fishing port as seen from the Casbah

The fishing port is a major sardine port. The commercial port is also known for its exports ofcobalt,manganese,zincand citrus products. The Avenue du Port, the main artery of the Anza district, is surrounded by canneries and has many popular small restaurants adjacent to the fish market. The city has a cement company called Ciments du Maroc (CIMAR), a subsidiary of the Italian groupItalcementiwhich is in process of being transferred to a new plant 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the city. There is also a shipyard in the port and the only merchant marine school in Morocco.

Agadir is served byAl Massira Airport,23 kilometres (14 mi) from the city.

Culture

Cinema Salam is still closed since the earthquake.

The Timitar festival, a festival ofAmazighculture and music from around the world, has been held in Agadir every summer since its inception in July 2004.

TheMorocco Movementassociation is involved in the arts and organizes concerts, exhibitions and meetings in the visual arts, design, music, graphic design, photography, environment and health.

Other cultural events in Agadir are:

• Noiz Makerz concert of urban music.
• Breaking South national break-dancing championship
• International Documentary Film Festival in November (FIDADOC)
• Film Festival for immigration
• International Festival of University Theatre of Agadir
• Concert for Tolerance (November)
• Festival of Laughter
• International Salon of Art of Photography (Clubphoto d'Agadir)

Museums

• Musée de Talborjt "La Casbah"
• Musée Bert Flint
• Le Musée des Arts Berberes
• Musee Municipal de Agadir
• La Medina d'Agadir

Education

The city of Agadir has a university: the University Ibn Zohr which includes a Faculty of Science, Faculty of medicine and pharmacy, Faculty of Law, Economics and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, and the multi-disciplined Faculty of Ouarzazate.

There are also establishments of higher education such as:

• the National School of Applied Sciences (ENSA)
• the National School of Business and Management (ENCG)
• the Graduate School of Agadir technology (ESTA).

There is an international French school: the French School of Agadir and also public schools: Youssef Ben Tachfine School, Mohammed Reda-Slaoui School, and the Al-Idrissi Technical College.

High schools in the city include:

• Groupe Scolaire Paul Gauguin Agadir(CLOSED in 2014)
• Groupe Scolaire LE DEFI
• Lycée Lala Meryem Agadir
• Lycée Qualifiant Youssef Ben Tachfine
• Lycée Technique Al Idrissi
• Lycée Al Qalam
• Lycée Al Hanane
• Lycée Français d'Agadir
• Lycée Anoual
• Lycée Zerktouni
• Lycée Mohamed Derfoufi
• Lycée Bader Elouefaq
• Lycée Ibn Maja
• Lycée Mounib
• Lycée Al Inbiaat

Sports

The city of Agadir has a football club known asHassania Agadirand the city has built the newAdrar Stadium,which the team plays its home matches at. The city also hosts the Royal Tennis Club of Agadir. It could host matches in the2030 FIFA World Cup.

TheHassan II Golf TrophyandLalla Meryem Cupgolf tournaments of theEuropean TourandLadies European Tourare held at the Golf du Palais Royal in Agadir since 2011.

People

• Mohamed Bensaid Ait Idder,Moroccan politician and activist
• Sion Assidon,Moroccan activist
• Walid Azaro,Moroccan footballer
• Abdelkrim Baadi,Moroccan footballer
• Jacques Bensimon,Canadian filmmaker, was born in Agadir
• Issam Chebake,Moroccan footballer
• Mohamed Choua,Basketball player
• Jalal Daoudi,Moroccan footballer
• Karim El Berkaoui,Moroccan footballer
• Hicham El Majhad,Moroccan footballer
• Omar Hilale,permanent ambassador of Morocco to theUnited Nations
• Pokimane,Moroccan-Canadian Internet personality and streamer
• Saadia Himi,Miss Netherlands Earth 2004, born in the Netherlands, has roots in Agadir.
• Hassan Kachloul,formerMorocco national football teamplayer, most notably playing forSouthampton,Aston VillaandWolves
• Mohammed Khaïr-Eddine(1941–1995), Moroccan writer
• Dominique Strauss-Kahn,spent his childhood there from 1951 to 1960
• Michel Vieuchange,French adventurer and explorer, died in Agadir in 1930
• Moncef Slaoui,Moroccan-Belgian doctor and researcher.

Nearby beaches

Agadir beach

Some of the most popular beaches in Morocco are located to the north of Agadir.Areas known for surfing are located near Taghazout village to Cap Ghir.

Many smaller and clean beaches are located along this coast. Some of them between Agadir and Essaouira are: Agadir Beach, Tamaounza (12 km), Aitswal Beach, Imouran (17 km), Taghazout (19 km), Bouyirdn (20 km), Timzguida (22 km), Aghroud (30 km), Imiouadar (27 km).

Main sights

• Agadir Crocodile park
• The view of the city and the bay fromAgadir Oufla(Casbah)
• Valley of the Birds, a pleasant bird park stretching along the Avenue of Administrations, between Boulevard Hassan II and 20 August
• The garden of Ibn Zaidoun
• Mohammed V Mosque, on the Boulevard President Kennedy
• Souk el Had (The biggest Market in Africa )
• Amazigh(Berber) Heritage Museum at the Ayt Souss Square
• Thegarden of Olhãoor "Garden of Portugal" and its memorial museum in Talborjt
• The marina with its Moorish architecture and shops
• Loubnane Mosque
• Wall of commemoration
• Memory of Agadir Museum; mostly photographic exhibits which concentrate on the Agadir earthquake on 29 February 1960

Nearby attractions

• The city ofTaroudannt80 km to the east, along the Souss valley
• Palm Oasis ofTiout20 km to the east ofTaroudanntand 100 km from Agadir
• Imouzzer Ida Ou Tananea small town 60 km northeast of Agadir whereParadise Valleyis located
• The beaches ofTaghazoutand Tamraght. Taghazout-Argana Bay, a large tourism development, was launched in 2007
• The city ofTiznit90 km to the south andTafraout80 km from Tiznit, a magnificent site of pink granite rocks
• TheSouss-Massa National Parkand Oued Massa, about 70 km to the south and the fishing village of Tifnit
• Legzira beach with spectacular natural arches, 150 km south of Agadir
• Sidi Ifni,160 km south of Agadir on the coast
• The city ofEssaouira175 km north of Agadir on the coast
• Dephinarium Agadir Dolphin World Morocco

Movies filmed in Agadir

• 1934:Le Grand JeubyJacques Feyder
• 1954–1955:OasisbyYves Allégret
• 1969:Du soleil plein les yeuxbyMichel Boisrond
• 1988:Y'a bon les blancsbyMarco Ferreri
• 2006:Days of GlorybyRachid Bouchareb
• 2009: "Les Filles du désert" by Hubert Besson, an episode of the television seriesPlus belle la vie
• 2011:Agadir Bombayby Myriam Bakir

In literature and art

• Agadir:literary work by Moroccan writerMohammed Khaïr-Eddine
• Ride to Agadir:song byMike Batt,that also has a cover byBoney M.

Sister cities

Agadir has eightsister cities

• Mar del Plata,Argentina
• Miami,United States
• Oakland,United States
• Portsmouth, New Hampshire,United States
• Olhão,Portugal
• Nantes,France
• Stavanger,Norway
• Shiraz,Iran
• Vigan,Philippines

Cooperation Pact:

• Lyon,France

External links

• Official Visit Morocco website