VISIT THE ISLAND OF GOREE
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 19th century and small buildings of the island recall this history. The House of Slaves, now an 18th century museum is a remarkable stop for Tourists. The Henriette-Bathily Women's Museum is a must visit for anyone wishing to understand the role of women in Western society.
This beautiful island is 182109 m2 in size and is home to a population of 1,600 people. You'll be walking through quiet cobbled streets with little traffic, which is a welcome sight in a country known for fast cars. The town of Gorée is located on an island with a deep harbor and a defensible coastline. While this island has a rich history, it is also a relic of the slave trade.
Avant l’abolition de l’esclavage, 200 à 400 esclaves passaient chaque année par Goree. La maison est maintenant un musée et un monument commémorant les horreurs du commerce des esclaves de l’Atlantique. Outre les musées et les sites historiques, il existe des fortifications coloniales et une ancienne résidence des gouverneurs français. L’histoire de cette ère est importante pour comprendre comment le monde moderne a fonctionné. En visitant la ville, assurez-vous take the time to visit the slave house. En 1975, l’Ile de Gorée à été classé comme Unesco World Heritage.
Tourism and places to visit in Gorée
From the historical museum of L'ifan to al mahdi memorial passing through the house of slaves until Navaron cannons, I'island of Goree is of great historical importance. History buffs will be able to explore not only the history of the island, but also the history of Senegal. Explore the gateway to the 'trip of no return', an important place in the history of the triangular trade, where many black people were put on ships to reach America. You can also browse the other parts of the island and discover the beauty of colonial architecture. Here we offer you some suggestions of the most interesting historical sites and attractions on the island. Other sites to visit in Senegal: Dakar (Point, Gueule-Tapée, Fass, Colobane, Medina, fann, Dakar-Plateau, Ouakam, Almadies, Mermoz-Sacre-Coeur), Thies, Saint Louis
The beach near the pier
The sandy beach near the pier has a bit finer sand than some of the surrounding beaches, and is not covered in seaweed. Also, the calm and smaller waves make for a better swimming experience, especially for families with children. There are small restaurant tents next door otherwise you can pack a lunch and plan to stay for the whole day.
LOVERS' BEACH
Just a few minutes from the pier, lovers' beach, a small beach with umbrellas is a great spot for those looking for a more laid-back beach retreat than some of the other spots on the island. During summer weekends couples can find room to spread out a bit, especially if you arrive early in the day.
Dedicated to preserving the ways of life of the people of Senegal in the past, the IFAN historical museum is a real journey through time. It was developed from the old Fort d'Estrées. It consists of 13 rooms that present thehistory of senegal in general. In these rooms are exhibited tools and archives of the slave trade on the island in which the museum is located. We are also rediscovering objects dating from the Paloelitic era to the present day. Some of their physical documentation will give insight into the history of the slave trade. These rooms take you from the capture of slaves to their extradition in boats to reach sugar cane plantation fields in America. One of the rooms leads visitors to rediscover the stages of Islamization in Senegal.
This monument was built to remember the many blacks sold during slavery. This building represents a symbol to mark the painful time lived by the African people just two centuries earlier.
The memorial is located in the south of the island, tourists and locals who come to visit take photos there. Around the place, small craft shops decorate the alley.
This Church built in 1830 after having been burned in Christmas 1799 by soldiers, bears the name of Saint Charles Borromeo. The latter is an Italian archbishop who is considered a reformer of Milan and a model post-Tridentine bishop. It's a place you should definitely add to your list because of its history. Inside you will find spiral staircases in cast iron in the workshops of the French Navy.
did you look the movie by J Lee Thompson? If you looked at it you will 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 with fortifications. In 1935, two 240 guns from the battleship Vergniaud were hoisted to the top of this high point on the island. It's a place that you must visit during your visit to Gorée.
Les musées ont pour roles de « collecter et conserver des documents sur l’histoire et le patrimoine culturel ». La maison des eslaves de Gorée avec son histoire partagent ces objectifs. Cette maison debordant sur l’océan atlantique fut construite en 1776 pour principalement habriter les esclaves qui devaient rejoindre l’amérique.
Aujourd’hui, la maison est une destination touristique populaire et présente les horreurs du commerce des esclaves. Le musée maritime est un autre point de repère historique sur l’île. La main slave house est l’un des sites les plus visités de l’île.
The House of Slaves contains evidence of the slave trade. The cells were small and each could accommodate a dozen to twenty slaves. Slaves were enslaved in these cells and were beaten to death. Their brutality has been documented in a documentary that is still under construction. It is an impressive historical site and a must-see for all visitors to Senegal. There is a museum on the island and a great opportunity to learn about the history of slavery.
À travers le recit historique commémoratif et et de la visite guidée des chambres restaurés, les visiteurs de la maison de Gorée auront une perspective unique sur la vie des esclaves de l’île. De nombreuses grandes personnalités comme barack obama, the Pope John Paul II made the "pilgrimage" on this site.
