Brazzaville

Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo, is one of Africa's more relaxed and green capitals, spread along the northern bank of the mighty Congo River, gazing across the water at the sprawling skyline of Kinshasa, capital of the neighbouring DR Congo, the closest pair of capital cities in the world. A leafy city of wide boulevards and a riverside setting, it holds French colonial architecture, the striking modernist Basilica of Sainte-Anne with its green-tiled roof, lively markets and the artistic Poto-Poto quarter, and pulses with the Congolese rumba music and the flamboyant style of the sapeur dandies for which the Congos are famous.

History

Before the French came, Mfwa and Mpila, trading centres of the Tio Kingdom, stood here, and Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza founded the settlement on 10 September 1880 on the Bateke village of Ncuna. It became the capital of the French Congo in 1904 and of French Equatorial Africa in 1910, its main public buildings went up in 1910-1915, and in 2013 UNESCO named it a City of Music (Wikipedia, Brazzaville).

What to look for

• The Basilica of Sainte-Anne - the striking green-tiled modernist basilica.
• The Congo River - the mighty river and views to Kinshasa.
• The Poto-Poto quarter - the artistic, lively neighbourhood.
• The markets and music - the bustling markets and rumba scene.

When to go

June to September, the main dry season, for the most comfortable weather; the city is green and pleasant year-round, and its music scene and nightlife are lively. The riverside and markets are best explored in the cooler hours, and Brazzaville serves as the gateway for trips to the country's rainforest parks.

Practical notes

Brazzaville is a modest, developing African capital with limited conventional sights and infrastructure, and the Republic of the Congo sees very few tourists, so its appeal is its relaxed green atmosphere, riverside setting, vibrant music and style culture, and its role as a gateway rather than blockbuster attractions; normal city precautions apply. As one of Africa's more laid-back capitals on the great Congo River, with its basilica, markets and famous rumba and sapeur culture, though, Brazzaville is a pleasant and characterful base.

Nearby

The Congo River rapids, the Lésio-Louna gorilla reserve and Pointe-Noire are within reach.

Key facts