Between the fragrant green of the eucalyptus, the pines, the tamarisk and the enchanting blue of a limpid, invigorating ocean only barely darker than the blue of the sky in which a brilliant sun shines every day, stretches a sublime beach of fine, golden sand, ten kilometres long. The beach at Agadir.

This is the magnificent, natural setting which was chosen for the most beautiful, the most highly regarded and the most hospitable of all Moroccan seaside resorts. You can play tennis or golf, sail, go horse riding, try your hand at water skiing, diving, deep sea fishing... taste all kinds of fresh fish, the finest North African cuisine... dance until dawn... and fall asleep in the welcoming luxury of a hotel offering the very finest service... enjoy a change of air in the imposing High Atlas, meet the famous blue men and discover the souks of a medieval or pre-Saharan township...The choice is yours. Beneath the Agadir sun, tourists are kings.

AGADIR: NOW LET THE FUN BEGIN !

With the pink flamingos looking on in bewilderment a wind surfer skims over the surface of the water in a flash of colour that stands out in vivid contrast against the blue of the sea and the sky. Children play happily, building castles in the sand. Tourists lie contentedly in the sun, putting the finishing touches to their tan while others stroll along the shore. A game of volleyball gets under way...To the gentle lapping rhythm of the waves, your skin deliciously caressed by a warming sun, you relax on a chaise longue with your hands buried in the warm sand, idly watching everything happening on the beach and reflect with a smile.

In 1505 the tiny village of Agadir made its first mark on history. The Portuguese set up a trading post there, defended by the Santa Cruz fortress on Cap de Gue. A profitable, but brief stay. In 1541 they were ejected by the founder of the Saadian dynasty, Mohamed Echeikh el Mehdi. The Golden Age of Agadir then followed, with ships arriving every day to take on cargoes of sugarcane, dates, wax, skins, oils, spices and gold. But over the years Agadir went into decline until, in 1960, it was destroyed by an earthquake. If it was Agadir's destiny to be destroyed, its reconstruction will depend on our faith and our determination, declared the late Mohamed V, King of Morocco.

So here is the new Agadir, the holiday capital!