In the south of the kingdom, in Tarfaya, the archaeological site of Casamar was officially included on the national heritage list by decision of Mohamed Mehdi Bensaïd, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication. Now elevated to the rank of historic monument, it cannot undergo any overhaul of its appearance without the prior agreement of the supervisory department.
“The Ministry of Culture has succeeded in rehabilitating this monument in this historic city, which will have a positive impact on the city’s economy and its inhabitants.», comments in a statement for Le360 Mohamed Mbark Yara, director of the Tarfaya Cultural Center. “This ministerial measure will make Casamar a haven for lovers of cultural and historical tourism, in a city harmoniously combining sea and dunes», he adds.
Salem Maâtouk, member of the Friends of Tarfaya association, for his part underlined the correctness of this decision due to the historical importance of the site. Built between 1878 and 1882 by the Scottish navigator and architect Donald Mackenzie, Casamar House (also named Port Victoria) has stood for more than 140 years on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, resisting the vagaries of time and waves. Once occupied by the Spanish, before being liberated in 1885 by Sultan Hassan I, the monument embodies the historical richness of this region.
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Thanks to its geographical location and its proximity to Europe and Africa, Casamar was an area of passage for numerous commercial caravans which linked the kingdom to the African continent. The decision of the Ministry of Culture aims to give a boost to tourism, cultural wealth and, therefore, the economy in the Tarfaya region, located some 100 km north of Laâyoune.
