Bingerville
The first colonial capital of Côte d'Ivoire, on a hill above the lagoon, with a botanical garden from 1904.
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Bingerville was made the colonial capital in 1900, on a ridge above the Ebrie lagoon chosen because it was thought healthier than Grand-Bassam, and it held that role until Abidjan took over in 1934. The governor's palace and a scatter of administrative buildings survive from the period, along with a botanical garden laid out in 1904 with mature specimen trees, and an art school in the old orphanage building that trained several generations of Ivorian sculptors.
What you actually see
- The botanical garden - a 1904 planting with mature specimen trees.
- The governor's palace - the colonial administrative building on the ridge.
- The art school - the studios in the former orphanage, a centre of Ivorian sculpture.
- The lagoon view - the Ebrie system below the ridge.
When to go
November to March is the dry season and the most comfortable. The garden keeps daytime hours. Weekends bring visitors from Abidjan.
Honest expectations
Several colonial buildings are derelict and closed. The botanical garden is poorly maintained and labelling is minimal. The town has been absorbed into Abidjan's sprawl.
Nearby
Abidjan is west, and Grand-Bassam is east on the coast.
What to pack for Bingerville
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.