French Consulate General, Tangier

The French Consulate General in Tangier is one of the consular representations of the French Republic in Morocco. It has a rich history linked to Tangier's past role as diplomatic capital of the Sultanate of Morocco from the late 18th to the 20th centuries.

History

The first French representative arrived in Tangier in 1794, and the French consulate was formally established there on 22 October 1796.[1]: 344  In 1816, it moved into the building later known as Dar al-Niaba on Rue Es-Siaghine,[2] about midway between the Medina's gate of Bab el-Fahs and the Petit Socco square, with a portal dating back to era of Portuguese Tangier.[3][4] Eugène Delacroix resided there in 1832 as he was traveling in Morocco together with ambassador Charles-Edgar de Mornay.[5] France eventually purchased the building in 1845,[1]: 332, 345  and elevated the consulate to a legation in 1846.[1]: 348 

In 1849, the consulate moved to the former legation of Denmark, more remote from the rue es-Siaghine.[1]: 350  Around 1905, it rented a building next to the Hôtel Villa de France, designed by architect Paul Guadet[1]: 411  for local businessman (and former interpreter for the French legation[1]: 250 ) Haim Benchimol.[2]

Following the creation of the Tangier International Zone, the French government decided to build more imposing premises for its representation (again a consulate following the establishment in 1912 of the French protectorate in Morocco), next to a villa it had purchased years before that served as the consul's private residence. The new building, also known as the Maison de France ("House of France"), was designed by local architects Gaston Raulin and Maurice Duché, and built by the firm of Desforges & Rousseau. It was completed in late 1928 under consul Pierre de Witasse.[2]

See also

Notes
  1. Jordi Mas Garriga (2019), La transformación de la ciudad de Tánger durante el Periodo Diplomático (1777-1912) : Arquitectura y Urbanismo (PDF), Tarragona: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
  2. Paul-Louis Chesneau (28 February 1938), "Maison de France 1828-1928" (PDF), Tanger-Riviera, Tangier: 4–7
  3. "Notes on the Geography of Morocco: Tangier". The Great Mirror.
  4. "Dar al-Niaba". ArchNet.
  5. "Fanatics of Tangier, Eugène Delacroix 1837/1838". Google Arts & Culture.


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