Tangier: Bohemian City

Pilot Guides

In the first half of the 20th century, Tangier with its international history and enticing location at the meeting point of Africa and Europe, developed a fascination for writers, artists and musicians from Europe and America.

Writers such as William Burroughs and Paul Bowles would hang out in haunts such as the Cafe Central and Grand Cafe de Paris.They were joined by spies and journalists such as the colourful London Times correspondent ,Walter Harris.

Artists such as Matisse came here in the early 2oth century to paint attracted by by the light and colour which had attracted previous generations of French painters in the 19th century , notably Eugene Delacroix.

Matisse stayed in the Villa de France a top one of the hills here and painted the English church in front , St Andrews, from the window of his hotel room.

In the 1960s musicians such as the Rolling Stones and the Beatles were attracted by the escapist attractions of Morocco and its breezy winter light and weather . They hung out at The Cafe Nair where they would watch the Tangier sunset over the straits of Gibraltar. It is still here today.

Yves St a Laurent , the French fashion designer, was a pied noir born in neighbouring Algeria and was inspired by the light and vibrant colours of North Africa which had such an influence on his designs. He had a home in the kasbah which is now a luxury hotel.