Culture of Agadir. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Agadir is a city with rich history that carefully keeps various monuments of past centuries. The city simply strikes tourists with the beauty of its natural tourist attractions. Santa Cruz do Cabo de Gué is the most famous historical landmark of the city. It is located in the northern part of Agadir. The fortress is situated on a high hill. It was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1960, so now the only surviving parts of the building are walls and gates. There is an excellent observation platform near the fort. Do not forget to visit it as you will see truly unforgettable views of the city.

Nature lovers should not forget to visit Souss-Massa Park, which has been named in honor of the rivers that flow in its territory. The estuaries of the rivers form a picturesque lagoon, which is home to rare birds. The territory of the park is also inhabited by gazelles, mongoose and wild boars. In winter the park becomes home of graceful flamingos, which also like the local lagoon. Agadir Zoo is a great place to continue your acquaintance with local fauna. A large collection of exotic birds is considered the main pride of the zoo. If you visit that wonderful place, you will see a large artificial lake. All visitors are welcome to make a ride on a snow-white sail boat and admire the grandeur of the local nature.

The city’s suburbs are the location of one more prominent landmark - Paradise Valley Nature Reserve. Thousands of tourists visit the park to see a waterfall of a wondrous beauty and enjoy the views of a mountain lake. The lake is small, but it is considered one of the deepest water reservoirs in the world. Enterprising locals have found a way to entertain tourists - for a small fee they dive from a high ledge into the lake and amazed spectators watch experienced swimmers with bated breath. On the territory of one of the city’s parks you will find Agadir Souk - a huge market, which is also known an important tourist attraction. Tourists come here to purchase jewelry, handmade carpets and handicrafts. The bazaar looks more like a museum rather than usual trading stalls. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

A must-see attraction is the Agadir Oufella. In past times, she played the role of the city. The fortress was built in the year 1572 and played an important role between Europe and the East. Having suffered from an earthquake in the middle of the 18th century, the city fell into disrepair. After that, the fortress was restored several times, but in 1960 another earthquake occurred, after which the fortress was finally turned into ruins. Today on the site of the former city you can see several external walls. However, the good news is that it is from here that unimaginably beautiful views of the city open up.

Nevertheless, astonishing views of the city’s great spaces are also visible from the La Grande Roue. We will recommend you ride on the wheel at dusk, when the moon beautifully frames the sky, and the lights – the evening city. So the impressions from visiting this place will be the best. The simple building of the fire station is considered unique from an architectural point of view. This no is joke – the building is really very attractive. It was designed by the architect Jean-Michel Zevaco. The idea behind it was for the complex to resemble the Greek sign “omega”. It is a high tower with a circle inside and was built after the 1960 earthquake.

There are also interesting religious sights in the “white” city (as Agadir is often called). For example, the Mohammed V Mosque, next to which there is a feeling of something incredible. “Neatness” and “beauty” – these are the associations that the shrine causes. Carved wooden doors visually attract every tourist to open them. Nonetheless, the nuance is that the mosque is closed for tourists, and it is possible to only enjoy it from the outside. This applies only if the tourist is not a Muslim – adherents of Islam are allowed to come in and pray. It is considered one of the most beautiful mosques in the entire region.

From museums, it is worth visiting the Memoire d’Agadir, which, as the name implies, is dedicated to memorable events. In this case, we are talking about the year 1960, when Agadir was partially destroyed, and only the ruins left from the already mentioned Agadir Oufella. Here travelers have the unique opportunity to literally touch the history that remained after the tragic events. The Musee du Patrimoine Amazigh d’Agadir gives visitors an insight into the unique Berber culture. The exhibits of the museum include Berber decorations and objects of their everyday life. You will find it very informative and interesting, and it is perfectly suitable for exploring the local culture.