L'ARCHIPEL DE MUSÉES
Read moreFrom La Villa to Kër Messaoud, Les Comptoirs and the new museum dedicated to the classical arts, ten museums focusing mainly on photography are scattered across the island, most of them on the southern tip.
Mupho. This museum dedicated to photography, opened in 2017, is the birthplace of the Archipel de musées. Here you can enjoy old portraits of Saint-Louisians, photos by Mama Casset and also by contemporary photographers.
La Villa. This is the 0 point of the visit, where you buy your ticket. Through primitive African art and the history of West African independence, this multi-purpose cultural center is an introduction to the other museums.
Le Comptoir. This temporary exhibition gallery is Amadou Diaw's private residence, a hangar transformed into a modern house with breathtaking views over the river. It's the starting point for your visit to the archipelago of museums.
Kër Repentigny. This space takes us back to the beginnings of photography in Saint-Louis, through rare photos by Meissa Gaye, the father of photography in Senegal.
Kër Ameth Gora. This renovated Saint-Louis house is dedicated to literature and Senegalese writers. The poems of writer Birago Diop (1906-1989), among others, are on display. The museum is named after a wealthy St. Louisan businessman.
Kër Thiane. This large hangar on the south side of the island is dedicated to contemporary sculpture, painting and photography.
Kër Messaoud. This well-preserved Moroccan house hosts temporary exhibitions and Amadou Diaw's personal collection.
Kër Lahlou. Housed in another Moroccan house, this museum traces all the milestones in Senegal's path to independence.
Kër Guillabert. The only museum to date in the north of the island. Formerly the property of Louis Guillabert (1866-1932), this house with its colonial architecture is dedicated to the art of coaster painting, where you can discover its evolution and technique through the works of Gora Mbengue, Mbida, Anta Germaine Gaye..
Origins. The latest addition to the Archipelago of museums is entirely devoted to classical African art, with 2,000 pieces on display.
JEAN MERMOZ MUSEUM
Read moreThe two rooms of this small museum, created in partnership with the city of Toulouse, are located in the Gouvernance building and bring to life the adventure of l'Aéropostale and its heroes, led by Mermoz and Saint-Exupéry. But don't expect any extraordinary visuals. Here, the richness is iconographic and above all textual, with excerpts from letters by the author of The Little Prince. The whole thing is really fascinating, well-written and, if you take the time to read them, the visit takes on the allure of an epic.