| Duration: | 1 Day(s) - 0 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Full Day Tours |
Departure towards Grand Bassam, former trading post and first capital now a living museum of the colonial era.
Crossing the Victory Bridge, visit the craft center, the Cultural Heritage House, and the National Costume Museum. Stop photos in a fishing village. Optional, visit the Royal Palace NZIMA ... Lunch in a restaurant by the sea. Afternoon, relax on the fabulous sandy beach for recreation. Back at the end of the day in Abidjan. Possibility to buy souvenirs in the artisan village.
Explore More About Grand Bassam:
Grand-Bassam is a town in the southeastern Ivory Coast, lying east of Abidjan. It is a sub-prefecture of and the seat of the Grand-Bassam Department; it is also a commune. During the late 19th century, Grand-Bassam was briefly the French colonial capital of the Ivory Coast. Because of its outstanding example of colonial architecture and town-planning, and the juxtaposition of the colonial town with a traditional Nzema village, the historic center of Grand-Bassam was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.
The name Bassam may come from an ancient African word for the mouth of the Comoé River. Inhabited by the Nzema people since the 15th century, the city grew into a profitable fishing village and a trading center. In 1843, after signing a treaty with the African ruler of the Grand-Bassam region, the French built Fort Memours on the banks of the river. This fort became the primary French trading point in the region, and after the Berlin Conference in 1885, became a base for the exploration of West Africa by the colonizers. In 1893, Grand-Bassam became the capital for the French Colonie de Côte d’Ivoire.
The town is largely divided into two distinct halves. On the south side of the Ébrié Lagoon is Ancien Bassam, the old French town where most of the colonial buildings and attractions are located. Nouveau Bassam lies to the north of the lagoon and grew out of the old servant quarters to become the main business center. The two are connected by a small bridge.
The main area of town is quite compact, so walking is an easy way of getting around. If you feel like venturing further, you will need to organize a bush taxi.
