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Museums & Galleries in Abomey
Abomey, in the interior north of Cotonou, was the capital of the powerful Kingdom of Dahomey from the 17th to the 19th century. Its Royal Palaces, inscribed by UNESCO, and the Musee Historique housed within them are the great record of a West African kingdom that ruled the coast until the French conquest.
Why here
Abomey holds the memory of one of West Africa's most formidable states, the Kingdom of Dahomey, whose kings ruled from here from the 1620s until the French conquest in 1894. Twelve successive kings each raised a palace on the same royal compound, a vast earthen-walled complex that UNESCO inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1985. Inside, the Musee Historique d'Abomey occupies the palaces of Kings Ghezo and Glele and gathers the regalia of the kingdom: the brilliantly coloured appliqu茅 banners that recorded each king's deeds, carved bas-reliefs, thrones, weapons of the famous women warriors the Europeans called the Amazons, and objects that speak plainly of the kingdom's power and its role in the slave trade. It is a hard, honest and unforgettable history. For a first-time visitor it is the single best place to understand the pre-colonial kingdoms of the Gulf of Guinea, told through the objects the kings themselves commissioned.
Best months
The palaces and museum are open year-round, and the driest, most comfortable months in the interior run from November to February. Abomey is inland and hot, so visit in the morning and carry water and sun cover. Photography inside parts of the museum is restricted, and a guided visit, included at the site, is the way to read the appliqu茅 banners and bas-reliefs that carry the kingdom's history.
Getting there & around
Abomey is about 130 kilometres north of Cotonou, roughly two to three hours by road, and can be done as a long day trip or an overnight, often paired with the nearby weaving and pottery towns. Bush taxis run from Cotonou and Bohicon, the rail-and-road junction a few kilometres away; hiring a car with a driver is easier. Guides at the site are essential to interpret the palaces. This is the settled centre-south of Benin, well away from the northern advisory zones.
Skill levels: beginner
Schools & guides (1)
Musee Historique d'Abomey
OrganizerThe Musee Historique d'Abomey is the national museum inside the Royal Palaces of Abomey, the earthen-walled compound of the Kingdom of Dahomey that UNESCO inscribed in 1985. Occupying the palaces of Kings Ghezo and Glele, it holds the kingdom's regalia: the appliqu茅 banners that recorded each king's reign, carved bas-reliefs, royal thrones, and objects tied to the Dahomey women warriors and the slave trade. Guided visits interpret the royal compound.