Cimetière Chrétien, Historic cemetery in Essaouira, Morocco.
Cimetière Chrétien is a cemetery located adjacent to the ancient medina walls, featuring stone gravestones with inscriptions in multiple European languages. The graves display various architectural styles reflecting the backgrounds of those buried there.
The cemetery was founded in 1745 as a consular burial ground for the foreign diplomatic and merchant community. It marks a significant period when Essaouira served as a major trading port with established European presence.
The cemetery holds remains of Christians from various European nations who formed the international maritime community of Essaouira. The inscriptions on the gravestones reflect the diversity of this foreign population that shaped the city's character.
The site lies immediately adjacent to the ancient city gates and is easily reached from the town center. Walking through requires sturdy footwear as paths between graves can be uneven.
Among the Christian graves stands a distinctive tombstone with Hebrew inscriptions for M. Zerbib, who converted from Judaism to Christianity. This grave reflects the personal journeys and religious transformations that occurred within this maritime community.
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