The ramparts have an acoustical design that allows the person standing in the middle of the circle to be clearly heard by those around the edge, great for a commander barking orders at his troops. Standing in the middle of the cobble-stone circle, say something and listen for the echo!
GED Los Angeles compared the ramparts to St Malo - the Essaouria ramparts are nearly 300 years old and St Malo was rebuilt after WW2 - so I guess there will be some difference in condition between the two. Although is was a Frenchman that designed the fortifications for the local Sultan so there is some sort of a link.
I went just before sunset and there was hardly a soul there -tourists and souvenir sellers had left (for dinner and Iftar)- just the seagulls. Beautiful views of the sea, the cliffs below, seagulls, the canons, old walls.
we enjoyed the variety of visitors walking about & enjoying the sun and the sea views. Tried a newly-opened restaurant called 'Il...something (I'll edit later when I find the name) which had a spiral staircase leading up 2-3 storeys & out to the rooftop deck with stonking views of the sea, huge platters of seafood and lots of interesting nooks & crannies in which to dine. Many well-heeled locals were enjoying the food & view when we had lunch. Pricey, but where is seafood not...?
Its great to walk the ramparts, don't miss it! Prepare to have all cobwebs blown away as you stand on these ancient walls with their lines of canons and imagine a time when this peaceful fort defended itself.
Great ocean scenes too, take a camera!
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