VISIT THE ISLAND OF GORÉE
Images of Gorée Island
What places to visit in Gorée?
A tiny, car-free island off the coast of Dakar, picturesque Gorée Island is a fascinating cultural site. It was a major slave-trading hub from the 15th to the 19th century, and the tiny buildings the island's history. The Slave House, now an 18th-century museum, is a remarkable stop for tourists. Henriette-Bathily Women's Museum is an essential visit for anyone wishing to understand the role of women in Western society.
This beautiful island is 182109 m2 in size and home to a population of 1,600. You'll be walking along quiet cobbled streets with little traffic, which is a welcome sight in a country known for fast cars. The town of Gorée is situated on an island with a deep harbor and a coastline that can be defended. While the island has a rich history, it is also a relic of the slave trade.
Before the abolition of slavery, 200 to 400 slaves passed through Goree each year. The house is now a museum and monument commemorating the horrors of the Atlantic slave trade. In addition to museums and historic sites, there are colonial fortifications and a former residence of the French governors. The history of this era is important for understanding how the modern world worked. When visiting the city, be sure to take the time to visit the slave house. In 1975, the Island of Gorée was classified as a World Heritage site. Unesco World Heritage.
Tourism and places to visit in Gorée
From the ifan historical museum to Al mahdi memorial passing through the house of slaves until Navaron cannons, I'Gorée Island is of great historical importance. History buffs can explore not only the history of the island, but also the history of Senegal. Explore the gateway to the "voyage of no return", an important place in the history of the triangular trade, where many blacks were loaded onto boats to reach America. You can also explore other parts of the island and discover the beauty of its colonial architecture. Here are a few suggestions of the most interesting historical sites and attractions on the island. Other places to visit in Senegal: Dakar (Point, Gueule-Tapée, Fass, Colobane, Medina, fann, Dakar-Plateau, Ouakam, Almadies, Mermoz-Sacre-Coeur), Thiès, Saint Louis
The beach near the pier
The sandy beach near the pier has slightly finer sand than some of the surrounding beaches, and is not covered in seaweed. In addition, the calmer, smaller waves make for a better swimming experience, especially for families with children. There are tents with small restaurants nearby, or you can pack a lunch and plan to stay for the whole day.
LOVERS' BEACH
Just a few minutes from the pier, lovers' beachA small beach with umbrellas is an ideal spot for those looking for a more relaxed beach retreat than some of the other places on the island. On summer weekends, couples can find room to spread out a bit, especially if you arrive early in the day.
Dedicated to preserving the lifestyles of the people of Senegal in the past, the IFAN historical museum is a real journey back in time. It was built on the site of the former Estrées fort. It is made up of 13 rooms, each presenting a different aspect of the company?s history.Senegal history in general. These rooms feature tools and archives from the slave trade on the island where the museum is located. We also rediscover objects dating from Palaeolithic times to the present day. Some of their physical documentation will give an insight into the history of the slave trade. These rooms take you from the capture of the slaves to their extradition in boats to the sugar cane plantations of America. In one of the rooms, visitors can rediscover the stages in the Islamization of Senegal.
This monument was built to commemorate the many blacks sold into slavery. The building is a symbol of the terrible times experienced by the African people just two centuries ago.
The memorial is located in the south of the island, where tourists and visiting locals alike take photos. Nearby, small craft stores decorate the alley.
This church, built in 1830 after having been burnt down by soldiers in Christmas 1799, bears the name of Saint Charles Borromeo. The latter is an Italian archbishop who is considered the reformer of Milan and a model post-Tridentine bishop. It's a square you should definitely add to your list because of its history. Inside, you'll find spiral staircases cast in the workshops of the French Navy.
did you look the movie by J Lee Thompson? If you've seen it, you'll recognize this place. The film was shot on Gorée thanks to these cannons. Overlooking the island on its southern tip, the Castel was a strategic position. It is a rocky plateau covered by fortifications. In 1935, two 240 mm cannons from the battleship Vergniaud were hoisted to the summit of this high point of the island. This is a place you must visit on your visit to Gorée.
The role of museums is to "collect and preserve documents on history and cultural heritage". The Slave House of Gorée and its history share these objectives. This house overlooking the Atlantic Ocean was built in 1776 primarily to house slaves bound for America.
Today, the house is a popular tourist destination and showcases the horrors of the slave trade. The Maritime Museum is another historical landmark on the island. La main slave house is one of the island's most visited sites.
The Slave Room contains evidence of the slave trade. The cells were small, each accommodating between a dozen and twenty slaves. Slaves were enslaved in these cells and beaten to death. Their brutality has been documented in a documentary that is still under construction. It's an impressive historical site and a must-see for all visitors to Senegal. There is a museum on the island and an excellent opportunity to learn more about the history of slaves.
Through the commemorative historical narrative and guided tour of the restored rooms, visitors to the Maison de Gorée will gain a unique perspective on the life of the island's slaves. Many great personalities such as barack obama, the Pope John Paul II have made the "pilgrimage" to this site.