THE ODYSSEY AND TRAVEL+LEISURE BOOSTING TRAVEL TO MOROCCO’S ESSAOUIRA | News

“The new movie adaptation of The Odyssey, whose Trojan Horse scene was filmed on the beach near Essaouira, is increasing interest in visiting us,” says Eric Molle, General Manager of Relais & Chateaux’s L’Heure Bleue Palais hotel. “The movie’s release came just weeks after the readers of Travel+Leisure magazine voted Essaouira as #3 on its ‘Best Cities in Africa & the Middle East’ list, after Jerusalem and Cape Town,” Mr. Molle continued.

Lying 110 miles west of Marrakech on the Atlantic coast, Essaouira is a romantic fishing port and resort, its historic medina filled with white houses, shops, mosques and synagogues with blue doors and shutters. Its plentiful souks are a major attraction for visitors, as is the Scala, the city’s massive seaside fortifications built by the Portuguese in the 17th century. Long known by the Portuguese name, Mogador, Essaouira has miles of wide sand beaches ideal for surfing, swimming and sunning.

The L’Heure Bleue Palais hotel, considered Essaouira’s leading hostelry, was originally the 18th century palace of Pasha Caïd Mbark Saïd. Built into the city’s historic walls, it was transformed into a luxurious 33-suite riad-hotel in the early 21st century, L’Heure Bleue Palais has just unveiled its renovated roof top, with swimming pool, sunning deck and rebranded Le Sama lounge and restaurant. “Even though we are close to the desert oasis of Marrakech, the climate in Essaouira is completely different – with Atlantic breezes cooling the city even in the heat of summer,” Mr Molle continued.

Most Americans reach Essaouira by road from Marrakech, “but more and more visitors are arriving from Paris, London, Spain, Belgium and Germany on nonstop flights directly into Essaouira-Mogador International Airport,” Mr Molle added.

For more information on L’Heure Bleue Palais, visit: www.heure-bleue.com/en