Larache

File:Eigentliche Abbildung der Starken Vestung Larache ein furnhemer Meerhaven in Barbarien, welche, in Nahmen Königlicher Majest - von Hispanien durch den Marckgraven von S.Germein ist eingenomen worden A°... - btv1b8440776q (2 of 2).jpg, depicting the town as the largest in the region]]

File:Ville de Larache en 1670.jpg

The city is not mentioned in Arabic historical sources until the 13th century. It was founded by the Idrisite Banu 'Arus.{{Cite web |title=Dargahinfo - Complete Collection of Dargahs World Wide |url=http://dargahinfo.com/Dargah_History.aspx?HID=314 |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=dargahinfo.com}} Because of the abundant vines in the area, they named it al-'Ara'ish, meaning "trellis of grape vines", or al-'Arīsh mtā' Bnī 'Arūs ("grape vine trellis of the Banu 'Arus") in longer form. The Almohad caliph Ya'qub al-Mansur (r. 1184–1199) built a fortress here in the late 12th century. In 1270, the Spanish led a successful raid on the city.{{Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition|volume=1|pages=604–605|last1=Yver|first1=G.|last2=Ricard|first2=R.|article=al-ʿArāʾis̲h̲}}

In 1471, the Portuguese settlers from Asilah and Tangier drove the inhabitants out of Larache, and again it remained uninhabited until the Saadi Sultan Mohammed ash-Sheikh decided to repopulate it and build a stronghold on the plateau above river Loukos. He constructed a fortress at the entrance to the port as a means of controlling access to the river.

For a long time, attempts by the Portuguese, Spanish and French to take it met with no success. The Portuguese established the nearby Graciosa fortress in 1489. The Kasbah, which was built in 1491 by Moulay en Nasser, later became a pirate stronghold.

In 1610, the town passed to the Spanish, who stayed there until 1689, but who mainly used the ports as trading stops and never really administered the town. Moulay Ismail finally conquered Larache in 1689.

Attacks on Larache continued, but it still remained in Muslim hands. In 1765, a French fleet failed in the Larache expedition. In 1829, the Austrians punitively bombarded the city due to Moroccan piracy.{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|title='Abd ar-Rasham|edition=15th|year=2010|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.|volume=I: A-Ak - Bayes|location=Chicago, Illinois|isbn=978-1-59339-837-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/17 17]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/17}} Due to the colonisation era, Spain took Larache in 1911 and held it for 45 years until 1956.

On 7 March 2023, Moroccan archaeologists discovered an ancient tomb dating back over 2,000 years to the Mauretanian period.{{Cite web |last=Kasraoui |first=Safaa |title=Morocco Announces Discovery of 2,000-Old Mauritanian Tomb |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/03/354333/morocco-announces-discovery-of-2-000-old-mauritanian-tomb |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=moroccoworldnews |date=7 March 2023 |language=en}}

The city is located on the northwestern coast of Morocco, on the south bank at the mouth of the Loukkos River. It is roughly {{Convert|80|km|mi}} southwest of Tangier.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X9kcBzjUtrwC&dq=larache+economy&pg=PA202 |title=The Report: Emerging Morocco 2007 |publisher=Oxford Business Group |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-902339-76-4 |pages=202 |language=en}} The city consists of a compact medina (historic old town), situated next to the river, and a larger "new town", established outside the old medina by the Spanish colonial administration after 1911 and stretching southwards over the coastal plateau.{{Cite web |date=15 April 2014 |title=Larache {{!}} Morocco |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Larache |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en}}

Larache has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa) with heavy rainfall. The summers are moderately hot and sunny and the winters are wet and cool. The record high temperature of {{convert|46.4|°C}} was registered on July 10, 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=60105&ano=2021&mes=7&day=11&hora=0&min=0&ndays=30 |title=60105: Larache (Morocco)) |author= |date= 10 July 2021|website=ogimet.com |publisher=OGIMET |access-date= 13 July 2021|quote=}}

{{Weather box

|location=Larache (1991–2020)

|metric first=yes

|single line=yes

|Jan record high C = 25.2

|Feb record high C = 29.3

|Mar record high C = 33.8

|Apr record high C = 33.5

|May record high C = 42.8

|Jun record high C = 42.9

|Jul record high C = 46.4

|Aug record high C = 45.2

|Sep record high C = 43.0

|Oct record high C = 38.1

|Nov record high C = 34.0

|Dec record high C = 27.9

|year record high C =

|Jan high C = 16.7

|Feb high C = 17.5

|Mar high C = 19.7

|Apr high C = 21.0

|May high C = 23.9

|Jun high C = 26.5

|Jul high C = 28.3

|Aug high C = 28.7

|Sep high C = 27.0

|Oct high C = 24.4

|Nov high C = 20.2

|Dec high C = 17.8

|year high C = 22.6

|Jan mean C = 12.4

|Feb mean C = 13.2

|Mar mean C = 15.2

|Apr mean C = 16.5

|May mean C = 19.4

|Jun mean C = 21.7

|Jul mean C = 23.8

|Aug mean C = 24.2

|Sep mean C = 22.6

|Oct mean C = 20.1

|Nov mean C = 16.0

|Dec mean C = 13.7

|year mean C = 18.2

|Jan low C = 8.2

|Feb low C = 8.8

|Mar low C = 10.6

|Apr low C = 12.2

|May low C = 14.8

|Jun low C = 17.5

|Jul low C = 19.2

|Aug low C = 19.6

|Sep low C = 18.2

|Oct low C = 15.7

|Nov low C = 11.8

|Dec low C = 9.5

|year low C = 13.8

|Jan record low C = -3.0

|Feb record low C = -0.6

|Mar record low C = 0.9

|Apr record low C = 5.6

|May record low C = 7.0

|Jun record low C = 10.5

|Jul record low C = 13.0

|Aug record low C = 13.5

|Sep record low C = 11.9

|Oct record low C = 7.2

|Nov record low C = 2.8

|Dec record low C = 1.3

|year record low C =

|precipitation colour=green

|Jan precipitation mm = 104.7

|Feb precipitation mm = 69.6

|Mar precipitation mm = 64.2

|Apr precipitation mm = 68.3

|May precipitation mm = 30.2

|Jun precipitation mm = 5.1

|Jul precipitation mm = 0.8

|Aug precipitation mm = 2.0

|Sep precipitation mm = 21.7

|Oct precipitation mm = 83.5

|Nov precipitation mm = 129.1

|Dec precipitation mm = 121.3

|year precipitation mm = 700.5

|Jan precipitation days = 7.8

|Feb precipitation days = 7.4

|Mar precipitation days = 7.2

|Apr precipitation days = 6.9

|May precipitation days = 4.1

|Jun precipitation days = 0.8

|Jul precipitation days = 0.2

|Aug precipitation days = 0.4

|Sep precipitation days = 2.3

|Oct precipitation days = 6.5

|Nov precipitation days = 8.1

|Dec precipitation days = 8.9

|year precipitation days =60.6

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|source = NOAA{{cite web

|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Morocco/CSV/LARACHE_60105.csv

|title = Larache Climate Normals for 1991-2020

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = 8 October 2023

|url-status = live

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231008060551/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Morocco/CSV/LARACHE_60105.csv

|archive-date = 8 October 2023}}

|date=May 2012}}

In the 2024 Moroccan census, the commune of Larache recorded a population of 133,731 inhabitants.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Population légale du Royaume du Maroc répartie par régions, provinces et préfectures et communes selon les résultats du Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat 2024 |url=https://www.hcp.ma/Population-legale-du-Royaume-du-Maroc-repartie-par-regions-provinces-et-prefectures-et-communes-selon-les-resultats-du_a3974.html |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Site institutionnel du Haut-Commissariat au Plan du Royaume du Maroc |language=fr}}

The economy of Larache, Morocco, is influenced by its strategic location along the Atlantic coast. Key aspects include:

Larache's port on the Atlantic Ocean plays a crucial role in the fishing industry. The city supports both artisanal and commercial fishing, with a focus on seafood processing and trade.{{Cite web |title=Pêche à Larache. Activités des poissons pour la pêche à Larache |url=https://mareespeche.com/ma/morocco-atlantic/larache/previsions/peche |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=mareespeche.com |language=fr}}

The surrounding fertile lands support agriculture, with crops such as citrus fruits, olives, and vegetables being prominent. This sector is vital for local food production and contributes to the economy.{{Cite web |title= Agriculture : Construction d'un qualipôle à Larache|date=24 October 2022 |url=https://medias24.com/2022/10/24/agriculture-construction-dun-qualipole-a-larache/}}

The port facilitates trade, acting as a key point for importing and exporting goods. The city’s commercial activities include retail and services, benefiting from its port-based trade.{{Cite web |last=Faïssal |first=Najat |date=2023-01-02 |title=Des journées pour promouvoir le commerce de proximité à Larache |url=https://aujourdhui.ma/regions/des-journees-pour-promouvoir-le-commerce-de-proximite-a-larache |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Aujourd'hui le Maroc |language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web |title=Construction d'une nouvelle zone d'activités économiques à Larache |url=https://fr.le360.ma/economie/construction-dune-nouvelle-zone-dactivites-economiques-a-larache-243545/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Le 360 Français |language=fr}}

Although not as developed as in some other Moroccan cities, Larache’s historical sites and Atlantic beaches attract visitors, contributing to the local economy through hospitality and cultural activities.{{Cite web |last=MAROC |first=INFOS DE TOURISME |title=Larache |url=https://www.infostourismemaroc.com/en/city/larache-morocco |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Morocco Tourism Info |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Dyck |first=Kevin |date=2017-01-05 |title=What to See in the Moroccan Coastal Towns of Larache and Asilah |url=https://www.mosaicnorthafrica.com/what-to-see-in-the-beautiful-moroccan-coastal-towns-of-larache-and-asilah/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Mosaic North Africa |language=en-US}}

The city has light manufacturing industries, including food processing and textiles, which help diversify the economy and provide employment.{{Cite web |last=Atalayar |date=2024-07-19 |title=PROCUMAR announces the official launch of the construction of its new plant in Larache |url=https://www.atalayar.com/en/articulo/economy-and-business/procumar-announces-the-official-launch-of-the-construction-of-its-new-plant-in-larache/20240719102903203101.html |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Atalayar |language=en}}

Overall, Larache's economy is supported by its Atlantic port, agricultural resources, and growing sectors in trade, tourism, and manufacturing.{{Cite journal |last1=Samadi |first1=Asmaa |last2=Achelhi |first2=Hicham |date=2021-11-27 |title=L'industrie 4.0 dans les zones d'activité économique au Maroc : Cas de la région Tanger-Tétouan-Al-Hoceima |url=https://www.ijafame.org/index.php/ijafame/article/view/201 |journal=International Journal of Accounting, Finance, Auditing, Management and Economics |language=fr |volume=2 |issue=6–1 |pages=327–338 |doi=10.5281/zenodo.5730618 |issn=2658-8455}}

File:متحف العرائش سابقا.jpg

• Port Lixus
• Plaza de España
• Oued Loukos (Loukkos River)
• Charie Mohammed Al-Khamis (Boulevard Mohammed V)
• Storks Castle
• Boukharis House
• Torres Park
• Jardin of Lions
• The Conservatory of Music
• Kessba, Gebibat & Bab Behar (Old Medina)
• Port of Larache
• Dghoghi Houses
• Balcon Atlantico
• Grave of Jean Genet
• Jewish Cemetery{{Cite web|url= http://archive.diarna.org/site/detail/public/1590/ |title = Larache Cemetery, Larache, Morocco}}

{{main|Lixus (ancient city)}}

Image:Lixus.jpgLixus is the site of an ancient city located in Morocco just north of the modern seaport of Larache on the bank of the Loukkos River. It was built by the Phoenicians in 1180 BC. Lixus was part of a chain of Phoenician/Carthaginian settlements; other major settlements further to the south are Chellah and Mogador. When Carthage fell to Ancient Rome, Lixus, Chellah and Mogador were annexed to the Kingdom of Mauretania.

This ancient Mauritanian city gradually grew in importance, later coming under Carthaginian domination. After the destruction of Carthage, Lixus fell to Amazigh (Berber) control, reaching its zenith during the reign of the Mauritanian king Juba II.

Some ancient Greek writers located at Lixus the mythological garden of the Hesperides, the keepers of the golden apples. The name of the city which was often mentioned by writers from Hanno the Navigator to the Geographer of Ravenna and confirmed by the legend on its coins and by an inscription. The ancients believed this to be the site of the Garden of the Hesperides and of a sanctuary of Hercules, where Hercules gathered gold apples, more ancient than the one at Cadiz, Spain. However, there are no grounds for the claim that Lixus was founded at the end of the second millennium BC. Life was maintained there nevertheless until the Islamic conquest of North Africa by the presence of a mosque and a house with a patio with walls covered with painted stuccos.

Larache offers 3 types of education systems: Arabic, French and Spanish . Each offers classes starting from pre-Kindergarten up to the 12th grade, as for German in the three last years of high school. The Baccalauréat, or high school diploma are the diplomas offered after clearing the 12 grades.

There are tens Moroccan primary schools,{{Cite web |title= Enseignement préscolaire: 40 nouvelles unités pour la province de Larache|date=11 August 2022 |url=https://aujourdhui.ma/societe/enseignement-prescolaire-40-nouvelles-unites-pour-la-province-de-larache}} dispersed across the city. Private and public schools, they offer education in Arabic, French and some school English until the 5th grade. Mathematics, Arts, Science Activities and nonreligious modules are commonly taught in the primary school.

The Colegio Español Luis Vives{{Cite journal |last=Montes Presa |first=José María |date=2006 |title=Colegio Español Luis Vives de Larache |url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=5333785 |journal=Aljamía. Revista de la Consejería de Educación en Marruecos |issue=Extra 17 |pages=57–58 |issn=2351-9371}} is a Spanish international school located in Larache, Morocco.

The Polydisciplinary Faculty of Larache is part of Abdelmalek Essaâdi University{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.researchgate.net/institution/Abdelmalek_Essaadi_University}} in Morocco. This institution offers a diverse range of programs across various fields of study, including sciences, humanities, and social sciences.{{Cite web |title=Présentation de la FPL |url=https://www.fpl.ac.ma/site/presentation/presentation-de-la-fpl/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=FPL |language=fr-FR}}

The CFI Larache,{{Cite web |title=Répertoire des établissements de formation de formateurs de la Francophonie : Établissements |url=http://repertoire.rifeff.org/schools/view/715 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=repertoire.rifeff.org}} a Centre for Teacher Training is a higher education institution affiliated with the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Professional Training. The CFI Larache accepts holders of DUT, BTS, DEUG, DEUST, or equivalent diplomas and prepares them with pedagogical and theoretical training for a career as teachers.

The Institut Spécialisé de Technologie Appliquée (ISTA{{Cite web |title=ISTA LARACHE - OFPPT |url=https://ista-larache.vercel.app/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=ista-larache.vercel.app}}) Larache is a key vocational training institute in Larache, Morocco, affiliated with the Office de la Formation Professionnelle et de la Promotion du Travail (OFPPT). It offers a variety of programs in fields such as mechanics, electronics, computer science, and construction, designed to equip students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

• Sidi Jilali bin Abd Allah El-Masbahi, native of Saqiyat al-Hamar, is considered a saint of Larache.
• Lalla Mennana El-Mesbahi (El-Masbahiya), his daughter, is also considered a saint and patroness of the city.
• Tayeb bin Mohamed bin Laarbi El-Mesbahi, The great-grandson of Lalla Mennana, who was in charge of her mausoleum and one of the most revered persons in the city.
• Jean Genet lived for several years and had requested to be buried there. His grave is in the Spanish cemetery of Larache.
• Amina Filali, whose suicide in 2012 sparked a political debate on women's rights and article 475 of the Moroccan penal code.
• Juan Goytisolo, Spanish novelist, is buried in the Spanish cemetery of Larache.
• Mounir Nasraoui, the father of Lamine Yamal, the Spanish national football team's youngest player, was born in Larache.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-10 |title=The story of 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, destined to be Barcelona's next superstar |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38354902/the-story-16-year-old-lamine-yamal-barca-next-superstar |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
• Lamia Messari-Becker,{{Citation |title=Lamia Messari-Becker |date=2025-01-15 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamia_Messari-Becker |access-date=2025-01-16 |language=de}} engineer of sustainable design, Professor of building technology and physics, member of Club of Rome,{{Citation |title=Liste der Mitglieder des Club of Rome |date=2024-12-19 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_Mitglieder_des_Club_of_Rome |access-date=2025-01-16 |language=de}} was born in Larache
• Mohamed Chrif Tribak, Moroccan filmmaker and screenwriter

• {{flagicon|Spain}} Almuñécar, Spain

File:Larache Plaza de Espana.jpg|Plaza de España

File:Larache Medina.jpg|Bab Behar or Old Medina

File:Larache Fortress.jpg|Larache Fortress

File:Larache seafront.jpg|Balcon Atlantico

File:Larache Souk.jpg|Larache Souk

File:Larache Music Academy.jpg|Larache Music Academy

File:Larache Spanish Consulate.jpg|Spanish Consulate

File:Larache Iglesia Pilar.jpg|Iglesia Pilar

File:Larache - Oued Loukous.jpg|Oued Loukous

File:Larache, sur la côte Atlantique (14346666832).jpg|Larache and the Atlantic Ocean

• Larache Province
• Lixus
• Loukkos River
• Chabab Larache an old famous football club from the city
• Oussama Belhcen a musician from Larache
• European enclaves in North Africa before 1830

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

{{EB1911 Poster|Laraish}}

• [http://larache24.com Website of the latest news about the city and its region 24/24h] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624035622/https://www.larache24.com/ |date=2024-06-24 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120606043652/http://www.laracheenelmundo.com/ Official Website in Spanish]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20141216195455/http://4larache.com/ Forum of Larache City in Arabic]
• [http://lexicorient.com/morocco/larache.htm Entry in Lexicorient] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204060407/http://lexicorient.com/morocco/larache.htm |date=2005-02-04 }}
• [https://books.google.com/books?id=GEl6N2tQeawC&pg=PA418 Encyclopedia Islam (p. 418)]

{{Larache Province}}

{{Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Populated places in Larache Province

Category:Populated coastal places in Morocco

Category:Port cities and towns on the Moroccan Atlantic Coast

Category:Former Spanish colonies

Category:Provincial capitals in Morocco