Youssoufia

Youssoufia is a compact industrial city in central Morocco, roughly 100 kilometres north of Marrakesh and about 90 kilometres east of Safi. As the capital of Youssoufia Province in the Marrakesh-Safi region, its identity is closely tied to the phosphate mining that has shaped the area since the early twentieth century.

Founded in 1931 as Louis Gentil, a French mining settlement named after the geologist who mapped the region's phosphate deposits, the town was renamed Youssoufia after Moroccan independence in honour of Sultan Moulay Youssef. Streets, industrial buildings and the phosphate railway still reflect that heritage.

Beyond the town, the province holds notable sites such as Jbel Irhoud, where some of the oldest known Homo sapiens fossils, dated to around 300,000 years, were discovered. The area also includes the Sidi Chiker mausoleum and Sabkhat Zima, a seasonal salt lake, adding archaeological and natural interest.

Youssoufia itself is a working, everyday Moroccan town rather than a major tourist hub, with local markets, cafés and modest hotels near the centre. Its position between Marrakesh, Safi and Casablanca makes it a practical stopover for travellers moving across central Morocco.

For business and leisure visitors alike, the city offers a window into Morocco's phosphate industry and a quieter alternative to the larger coastal and imperial cities, with onward connections by road and rail.