Larache

1610 map showing the Cession of Larache, depicting the town as the largest in the region

A view of the port of Larache around 1670.

The city is not mentioned in Arabic historical sources until the 13th century. It was founded by the Idrisite Banu 'Arus.[2] 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.[3] 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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5]

The city is located on the northwestern coast of Morocco, on the south bank at the mouth of the Loukkos River.[3] It is roughly 80 kilometres (50 mi) southwest of Tangier.[6] 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.[3][7]

In the 2014 Moroccan census Larache recorded a population of 125,008 inhabitants.[1]

Larache's economy is focused on agriculture, fishing, and manufacturing. Its port exports produce, timber, and wool.[6][7]

The Colegio Español Luis Vives, a Spanish international school, is in Larache.

• 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.

• Almuñécar, Spain

• 
  Plaza de España
• 
  Bab Behar or Old Medina
• 
  Larache Fortress
• 
  Balcon Atlantico
• 
  Larache Souk
• 
  Larache Music Academy
• 
  Spanish Consulate
• 
  Iglesia Pilar
• 
  Oued Loukous
• 
  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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Larache.

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Laraish".

• Website of the latest news about the city and its region 24/24h
• Official Website in Spanish
• Forum of Larache City in Arabic
• Entry in Lexicorient
• Encyclopedia Islam (p. 418)