Château Viale

The Château Viale stands in the hills north of Kpalimé, built from 1940 to 1944 by Raymond François Viale, a Frenchman of German origin, as a private house in a mock-medieval idiom with a tower and thick walls; it later passed to the Togolese state, has served as a presidential residence since 1975 and has hosted cabinet meetings and visiting heads of state. It looks out over the Plateaux region. Access to the building itself is restricted.

The main sights

• The mock-medieval house - turrets and heavy walls on the ridge.
• The hill position - above Kpalimé, looking over the Plateaux region.
• The Plateaux view - the long outlook over the region.
• The colonial origin - Raymond François Viale's private house, built 1940-1944.

When to go

November to March is the dry season with the clearest views. Harmattan haze in December and January can cut the view. Access is restricted year round.

Things to know

The building is a state residence and access is restricted; the visit is the exterior and the viewpoint. Photography may be discouraged. The road up is steep and rough in places.

Nearby

Mount Klouto is nearby, and Kpalimé is below.

Key facts