Yamoussoukro Tourist Information

Yamoussoukro became the capital in 1983, but it's the capital in name only. Starting in the 1960s, President Houphouët-Boigny began spending lavishly on his native village. The result is a wasteful, bizarre example of what not to do with a lot of money. There are deserted, eight lane highways lined with over 10,000 lights and avenues that end in the jungle. Virtually no traditional African houses are left; Houphouët-Boigny replaced them with concrete middle class structures. At the same time there's no city like it in Africa, and the core centre is a lot livelier at night than its grandiose, impersonal appearance suggests.

The dazzling centrepiece of it all is the Basilique de Notre Dame de la Paix, an overly long name for an almost exact replica of St Peter's in Rome. Built in only three years, the basilica is the tallest church in all of Christendom - which is probably meaningless to a country with few Catholics. Size and shape aside, what you'll remember most are the 36 immense stained glass windows, all hand blown in France. All in all, not bad for US$300 million, a sum equalling half the national budget deficit.

Yamoussoukro is about 200km (125mi) north-west of Abidjan. Connections in all directions are easy because of its central location. Buses tend to be the best, quickest and cheapest form of transport for getting there and around.

Yamoussoukro Destination Reviews

Have you visited Yamoussoukro or do you leave in Yamoussoukro? If so, please share your thoughts and knowledge about Yamoussoukro with our community. Tell us about your experience. About these special places that make Yamoussoukro a place worth a visit. Tell us about places that shouldn't be visited in Yamoussoukro. Place your personal destination review about Yamoussoukro and let others benefit from your review.

Place a review about Yamoussoukro

Want to know more about Yamoussoukro? Want to find out what others experienced in Yamoussoukro? Read what others reported about Yamoussoukro and benefit from our tourist reviews about Yamoussoukro.

Invalid query on hotels