In Ouidah, located 40 Km away from Cotonou, you find the relics of foreign occupants, ancient Dutch, English or Portuguese forts, but the city keeps typically African features.
The Sea, with a fine-sand beach is 4 km distant from the town, 4 km to go along a fabulous coconut trees plantation.
Centre of the Portuguese fort, turned into an impressive musée de la traite Atlantique (museum of the Atlantic slave trade), Ouidah was one of the main historical places for slaves boarding.
The Porte de Non Retour des esclaves (the door of no-return for slaves) Ouidah was considered to be the religious capital of Benin because the many feasts peppered with songs, drums and dances show that no traditional belief or superstition has been distorted or discontinued. It was in the villages situated between Abomey and Ouidah that "VODOUN" was born. The black people and the Caribbean have kept the rites .
The fetishists of Ouidah are real fetishists and the Temple of sacred Pythons, although modest, houses a hitherto worshiped fetish. You should however feel free to visit through the large avenues, a very modern youth and arts centre, the Cathedral opposite to le Temple DANGBE (Python temple) and the historical Museum settled on the premises of the former Portuguese residential buildings. The historical Museum of Ouidah located in the ancient Portuguese fort (1721) is full of the relics of the slave trade with the American continent.
Ouidah 92, organised in February 1993, in Ouidah, was an opportunity for establishing a circuit which commemorates and recalls the deportation of tens of thousands of men, women and children.
Tourist information about another destination in Benin