SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL
The oldest surviving cathedral in Central Africa, its construction on top of the Aiglon hill began in 1892
Situated at the top of the Butte de l'Aiglon - which offers a beautiful view of the city center, the river and Kinshasa in the background - Brazzaville Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in Central Africa still standing. In 2022, it celebrated 130 years of existence. After the Brazzaville mission was founded in 1887, construction began in 1892 and continued over several decades. In the central part of the facade, the old bell tower was replaced by a concrete clocheton, topped by a Latin cross, designed by Roger Erell in 1952. Two polychrome statues of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul stand on either side of the main façade, and an anachronistic clock in the colors of a local telephone company... Visited by de Gaulle in 1944 and John Paul II, this is also the burial place of Cardinal Emile Biayenda, whose murder in 1977 still fuels rumors. Beside him lies Monseigneur Théophile Mbemba, the first Congolese archbishop of Brazzaville, appointed on June 23, 1964. Near the cathedral, the Place Marial is a small haven of peace and silence surrounded by a series of particularly well-preserved colonial houses, including the episcopal palace, a number of religious bookshops where you can buy locally-made rosaries, and a pilgrim reception center. The buildings are built around a pretty rectangular courtyard with a statue of the Virgin Mary in the center, where believers regularly come to gather and light candles.
Book the Best Activities with Get Your Guide
Members' reviews on SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL
