Grand-Bassam

Grand-Bassam, a coastal town just east of Abidjan, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Côte d'Ivoire's most atmospheric places, the former colonial capital of the territory in the late nineteenth century. Its historic quarter preserves a poignant ensemble of grand but faded French colonial architecture, elegant administrative buildings, merchant houses and villas, now weathered and crumbling amid the sea air, several restored as museums and galleries. Set between a lagoon and an Atlantic beach, the town blends this evocative colonial heritage with a relaxed seaside atmosphere, popular weekend beaches and a thriving community of artists and craft-sellers.

What you actually see

• The colonial quarter - the faded French mansions and buildings.
• The National Costume Museum - the museum in an old colonial building.
• The beach - the Atlantic shore and weekend seaside atmosphere.
• The art and craft - the galleries and artisans of the town.

When to go

November to March, the drier season, for the best weather; the town is an easy day trip or overnight from Abidjan, busiest and liveliest at weekends when city-dwellers come for the beach. The historic quarter is best explored slowly on foot, ideally with a guide to bring its colonial history to life.

Honest expectations

Much of Grand-Bassam's colonial architecture is genuinely crumbling and faded rather than fully restored, which is its melancholy charm for some and neglect for others, and the beach, while pleasant, has strong currents and is more atmospheric than pristine. As an evocative, UNESCO-listed relic of the colonial past by the sea, with its faded grandeur and artistic life, though, Grand-Bassam is a rewarding and atmospheric visit.

Nearby

The economic capital Abidjan and the eastern coast are close by.