Things to see and do Île De Gorée

The Maison des Esclaves (Slave House), with its red walls and cellar chains, has been featured in every history book. Former curator Boubacar Joseph Ndiaye (who died in 2009) was an institution. Thanks to him, this building constructed by the Dutch in the ^17th century was renovated with the help of UNESCO in 1990. It is one of the last slave houses still standing, with a capacity of 150 to 200 slaves, and has become a symbol of the horror of the slave trade, from the sale of African slaves by the Africans themselves, to the commercialization of human beings sent to the Americas in their millions by Portuguese, then Dutch and French colonizers. Their country of destination depended on the needs of the buyers: the father might go to the USA, the mother to Brazil and the child to the West Indies. They left Gorée under matricule numbers. On the left is the weighing room - slaves weighing less than 60 kg were put on hold and force-fed until they reached their weight. Next door, the room where men fit to leave awaited their turn, then the room for children, young virgins and finally women. Under the stairs, dungeons for the recalcitrant. At the end of the corridor, the "door of no return", then the sea, the last passage before the Americas. Upstairs, an exhibition room features explanatory panels on the triangular trade, incorporating the latest research. A visit not to be missed.

Calm, clear and limpid water: this is the water that awaits you on the small beach of Gorée, bounded by the pier's dyke. It is protected from the Atlantic winds, like the whole island, being located in the centre of a harbour, but the water is cooler than on the mainland. Quiet during the week and out of season, it is however very busy during the holidays and weekends. In the event of large crowds, you may prefer the other beach of the island, below Fort d'Estrées, out of sight.

Dedicated to the Italian Cardinal Charles Borromeo, this church was erected in 1830 on the ashes of the previous one, burnt by the English, during Christmas Eve 1799, when the island was recaptured. The building was financed by the Signares of Gorée. One appreciates its simple architecture, its square with columns overlooking a quiet square. Every year, the church hosts the island's patron saint's day, the 4th of November or the following Sunday, if this date does not fall on a Sunday.

This union brings together tourism professionals, but also volunteers from various associations. An information point is set up not far from the landing stage, on the Human Rights Esplanade. One can ask there for an official guide, who charges a little expensive price for two people, but interesting for a group, to have explanations on this memory island. Part of this money is used, among other things, to clean up the island, and it's a good deed.

This is often the first place you go, at the southern tip of the island, to enjoy the superb view over Dakar and its bay. All the more so as the path leading to the summit is lined with colorful paintings by Senegalese artists, which you're more than welcome to take the time to admire. At the western end stands Fort Saint-Michel, built by the French in 1892 and on which the Slave Memorial was erected and inaugurated in 1999, a modern structure representing the hull and sail of a ship. Behind it, a telemeter dating from 1907, used to measure the distance of ships in order to adjust the cannons. Until recently, the top of the fort housed the open-air studio of Senegalese artist Balla Ngongo, who died in July 2023, where he exhibited a number of his works based on salvaged materials. Perhaps a local artist will soon replace him. On the other side of the castel, a cannon with a range of 14 km. It was used only once, on September 23, 1940, by Vichy France, to sink an English ship during the Battle of Dakar. The wreck still lies there, several meters underwater. A buoy marks the danger for boats, which is why the longboat that brings visitors to the island makes a wide turn before entering the harbor at the pier. At the time of Senegal's independence, the French sabotaged the cannon so that it could no longer be used. Before you leave, enjoy the breathtaking ocean views and take a deep breath of iodized air!

There are Elhadj, Moustapha, Abdoulaye, Pape, Mohammed and Mbodj, the president, among others the 30 resident guides of Goree who have formed an association. Living on the island for some time, they want to make a difference with the national guides landing in Gorée for the day only. In the company of these locals steeped in Gorée's culture and traditions, you will visit all the points of interest not to be missed, with reliable and precise explanations of Gorée's poignant history. A good plan!

The museum is housed in the former Fort d'Estrées, built in the ^mid-19th century on the northern tip of the island. Twelve rooms and almost 500 exhibits present the history of Senegal from the Paleolithic to the present day. Simple, well-designed explanatory panels tell visitors all about the Paleolithic period in the region, the great empires and kingdoms of the Middle Ages, the slave trade, resistance, Islam and a history closer to home (colonization, decolonization...).

Gorée Island has one of the oldest mosques in Senegal, built in 1890 with basalt stones from the country, at the foot of the western slope of the Castel. A project for the development of the esplanade has been under discussion for a long time and has still not started. It includes areas for relaxation and the integration of the craft trade site located for the moment at the bottom of the Castel. Only Muslims will be able to visit the mosque. One notices a slightly more modern element: a false palm tree that hides the building's speakers!