Basilique Sainte-Anne

Sainte-Anne du Congo was designed by Roger Erell and completed in 1949, and it is unlike any other church in the region: a parabolic vault in reinforced concrete spanning the nave without internal columns, roofed in green glazed tiles made locally, with brick and copper detailing. The bell tower stands separately. It was damaged during fighting in the 1990s and has been repaired since, and it remains in use. Erell drew on Gothic proportion for the section while using entirely modern materials, which is why the building reads as both familiar and unlike anything else.

What you actually see

• The parabolic vault - the concrete span crossing the nave without columns.
• The green tiles - the locally made glazed roof covering.
• The separate bell tower - the campanile standing apart from the church.
• The Erell design - a building unlike anything else in the region.

When to go

June to September is the dry cooler season. Services restrict visiting. The building keeps daytime hours.

Honest expectations

Damage from the 1990s took years to repair and some of the fabric is renewed. Services take priority over visitors. The surrounding quarter is crowded and busy.

Nearby

The Poto-Poto school is nearby, and central Brazzaville is west.