UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Benin
Benin has 3 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List (2 cultural and 1 natural), the first inscribed in 1985 (Royal Palaces of Abomey). The map below plots every one of them alongside the rest of the List, and each site is written up in full further down the page.
- World Heritage Sites
- 3
- Cultural
- 2
- Natural and Mixed
- 1
- First Inscribed
- 1985
Map of World Heritage Sites in Benin
CulturalNaturalMixedIn DangerLarge dots are in Benin. Click a dot to read about the site.
Royal Palaces of Abomey
Benin · 7.1856° N, 1.9881° E · 1 km from Abomey
The Royal Palaces of Abomey are 10 palaces spread over an area of 47 hectares (120 acres) at the heart of the Abomey town in Benin, formerly the capital of the West African Kingdom of Dahomey. The Kingdom was founded in 1625 by the Fon people who developed it into a powerful military and commercial empire, which dominated trade with European slave traders on the Slave Coast until the late 19th century, to whom they sold their prisoners of war. At its peak the palaces could accommodate up to 8000 people. The King's palace included a two-story building known as the "cowrie house" or akuehue. Under the twelve kings who succeeded from 1625 to 1900, the kingdom established itself as one of the most powerful of the western coast of Africa.
UNESCO had inscribed the palaces on the List of World Heritage Sites in Africa. Following this, the site had to be included under the List of World Heritage in Danger since Abomey was hit by a tornado on 15 March 1984, when the royal enclosure and museums, particularly the King Guezo Portico, the Assins Room, King's tomb and Jewel Room were damaged.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Royal Palaces of Abomey (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Why Royal Palaces of Abomey Is Listed
- (iii)
- A unique testimony to a cultural tradition or civilisation.
- (iv)
- An outstanding example of a type of building or landscape.
More about Royal Palaces of Abomey
UNESCO's Description
From 1625 to 1900, 12 kings succeeded one another at the head of the powerful Kingdom of Abomey. With the exception of King Akaba, who had his own separate enclosure, they all had their palaces built within the same cob-wall area, in keeping with previous palaces as regards the use of space and materials. The royal palaces of Abomey are a unique reminder of this vanished kingdom.
From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).
History
The palaces built by the 12 rulers of the kingdom within the cloistered site of Abomey functioned between 1695 and 1900 as the traditional cultural hub of the Dahomey Kingdom. The first ruler to initiate the building of palaces was King Houegbadja, who had founded the city.
According to folklore, the descendants of the royal family of Abomey who built the 12 Royal Palaces are the progeny of Princess Aligbonon of Tado and a panther. Their kingdom existed in the southern part of the present day Republic of Benin in Abomey. Recorded history is, however, traced to the 17th century to two of their descendants, namely Do-Aklin and Dakodonou.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Royal Palaces of Abomey (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Koutammakou
Benin, Togo · 10.1000° N, 1.0667° E · 2,718 km² · 43 km from Natitingou
Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba (French: Koutammakou,
le pays des Batammariba) is a cultural landscape designated in 2004 and expanded in 2023 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the border between northern Togo and Benin. The area features traditional mud tower-houses which remain the preferred style of living. The traditional mud houses are known as a national symbol of Togo. Many of the mud houses have two floors and some of them have flat roofs.
In 2008, to complete the inscription of the site to World Heritage, the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of UNESCO, headed by Rieks Smeets, set up the "Safeguarding of the Cultural Intangible Heritage of Batammariba" from the 2003 Convention.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Koutammakou (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Why Koutammakou Is Listed
- (v)
- An outstanding example of traditional human settlement or land use.
- (vi)
- A direct association with events, ideas or beliefs of universal significance.
More about Koutammakou
UNESCO's Description
The Koutammakou landscape in north-eastern Togo and neighbouring Benin is home to the Batammariba, whose remarkable mud tower-houses are known as takienta ( sikien in the plural). Nature is strongly associated with the rituals and beliefs of society here. The landscape is exceptional due to the architecture of the tower-houses which reflect the social structure; its farmland and forest; and the associations between people and landscape. The buildings are grouped in villages, which also include ceremonial spaces, springs, sacred rocks and sites reserved for initiation ceremonies.
From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).
History
The Tammari peoples, for which Koutammakou is inhabited, have lived on this site for hundreds of years. They migrated to the area sometime during the 17th or 18th century.
Koutammakou was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, inscribing it as the Land of the Batammariba. The site was extended in 2023.
The traditional houses of Koutammakou are known as Siken and are the official national symbol of Togo. They reflect the unique animistic beliefs and traditions of the community.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Koutammakou (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Visiting Koutammakou
Koutammakou (Batammariba Country) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site cultural landscape in Northern Togo along its border with Benin. This guide focuses on the Togo side, known for its traditional mud tower-houses (takienta) and rich cultural heritage.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Koutammakou (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Shared With Neighbouring Countries
These sites cross the border. Each is written up on the page of the country UNESCO lists first.
World Heritage in Benin: Quick Answers
- How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Benin?
- Benin has 3 World Heritage Sites: 2 cultural and 1 natural. 1 of them is shared with a neighbouring country.
- What was the first World Heritage Site in Benin?
- Royal Palaces of Abomey, inscribed in 1985. The most recent is Koutammakou, inscribed in 2004.
- What are the natural World Heritage Sites in Benin?
- W-Arly-Pendjari Complex.
- Are any World Heritage Sites in Benin in danger?
- None of the World Heritage Sites in Benin is on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger.