Larache (also Al Araich in Arabic is an important town in the region Tanger Tetouan in northern Morocco. It was founded in the 7th century when a group of Muslim soldiers from Arabia extended their camp at Lixus onto the south bank of the Loukkos River.
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.
In the 15th century superpower due to their marine expenditures Portugal spoke of Larache as the largest Moroccan Port.
For a long time, attempts by the Portuguese, Spanish and French to take it met with no success. The Kasbah which was built in 1491 by Moulay en Nasser, later became a pirate stronghold. In 1610, the town passed to Spanish hands who stayed there until 1689 about 79 years but mainly used the ports as trading stops and never really administered the town. Moulay Ismail finally retook it in 1689. Attacks on Larache continued but it still remained in Muslim hands. But due to the colonisation era Spain, in 1911, took Larache and held it for 45 years until 1956.
Larache retains much of the Spanish touch from the period of colonization, and is a summer resort very much popular among Moroccans, especially emigrated Moroccans on holiday in the old home town.
There is a relaxed atmosphere to Larache, no hustling, lots of Moroccans with the best intentions in mind, little difference between the sexes. Social life in Larache is highly developed, with long mingling hours in the evenings. The long, clean, tree-sheltered beach is filled up through the summer with emigrated Moroccans, coming from several countries in Europe, using their new tongue.
larache's climate
Climate average temperatures: 14 degrees in winter 16 with 23 degrees in spring and the autumn, the temperature can reach 24 degrees. However in summer, the temperatures can be hot but, very pleasant because the ocean brings a little freshness.
