20 | The Lion King
Country Focus
Sites to visit
B
enin offers tourists several
geographic and cultural attractions
including beaches and picturesque
villages in the South, animal parks in the
North, and interesting places like the
“high place of slavery” and the “cradle
of voodoo.”
Royal palace of Abomey
The historic capital of the kingdom
of Danhomey is located 135 km from
Cotonou, Abomey. It was built in the
16th century by King Houegbadja.
The site has the statue of king Behan-
zin, who fought to protect the Benin
Kingdom, especially against the French.
The historic museum of Abomey was
created in 1943, by the French colonial
administration. It occupies the site of
the palace wing where the palaces of
kings Guézo and Glèlè are. The whole
palace site occupies 44 hectares and
has been listed as World Heritage Site
by UNESCO since 1985. The palaces
of Abomey provide an exceptional
testimony of an ancient kingdom that
disappeared, while the city is still a
major centre of traditional religion in
Benin.
Door of no return (La Porte de
non retour)
The "Door of no Return” is a monument
that has been raised in memory of
millions of Africans who paid with
their freedom, and even their life, the
building of European economic powers
and the fortunes of the bourgeoisie of
Kota Waterfall
Photo: Office of Tourism, Benin Republic
