Africa

Abomey : Benin

Abomey is the trade center for an agricultural region where grain, peanuts, and palm products are processed. The town is linked by railroad with Cotonou. Abomey was the capital of the kingdom of Dahomey (see Benin, founded in the early 17th cent. It dominated production and trade with European companies on the Slave Coast until the late 19th cent. Abomey was conquered by the French between 1892 and 1894. Ruins of the palaces of former Dahomey kings remain, and there is a museum.

Ouidah : Benin

Made famous by Chatwin’s “The Viceroy of Ouidah” the city of OUidah in Benin is a major voodoo centre and a nice city to visit. The old slave port still has many historical sites and museums. Oudiah is only 40 km form Cotonou and can be seen as a day trip.

Ouidah Attractions

– Musee d’Histoire – Musee des Artes et Cultures Vodun – Musee des Tapisseries et des Tentures

Porto Novo : Benin

Porto Novo is the capital city and one of the most interesting towns in Benin. It has a number of buildings dating from the period when the Portuguese used it as a base for buying slaves which were shipped off to the New World.

Other sights in town include the Musee Ethnographique which retraces the history of Porto Novo and has a good collection of Yoruba masks, the Palais Royal of King Toffa now a museum which gives you a good impression of how African royalty lived before Colonial times.

Just outside of town is the Grand Marche d’Adjara which is held every fourth day. There is also an interesting Brazilian-style church here which is now in use as a mosque. Another good option for a day trip is to hire a priogue and to make a trip to one of the villages on the lagoon.

Attractions in Porto Novo:

– Ethnography Museum – Palais du Roi Toffa

Cotonou : Benin

Cotonou is the most important city of Benin. Porto novo is the official capital, but in economic activity Cotonou takes the first place. It is the place to arrange your visa and onward transport. Cotonou was originally dominated by the Kingdom of Dahomey from the 18th century. In 1851 the French made a treaty with the Dahomean King Gezo that allowed them to establish a trading post at Cotonou. In 1883 the French navy occupied the city to prevent British conquest of the area.

Although the city itself doesn’t boast too many sights it is a lively place and an ideal spot for planning trips to the region. From Cotonou it is 20 minutes to Porto novo with its museums and royal palace. The slave port of Ouidah with many historical sites and museums is 40 Kms west of Cotonou. To Abomey, the ancient capital of Dahomey it is 100km north. All main roads are paved and in good condition.

Ganvie, “the Venice of Africa” a village build on stakes in the lake is a few kilometres north of Cotonou.

The Boulevard St. Michel is the centre of town and like its counterpart in Paris it’s a very busy streets with lots of activities. At the end of the boulevard you find the Dan Topka market, and this is a good place to find transport to the other attractions.