Description of the attraction
The twelve Royal Palaces of the city of Abomey are located on an area of more than 45 hectares in the center of the former capital of the West African Kingdom of Dahomey. The kingdom was founded in 1625 by the Fon people, whose representatives made the future Benin a powerful military and trading state. From 1625 to 1900, 12 monarchs succeeded each other at the head of the kingdom of Abomey. Dahomey traded on the controlled coast until the late 19th century with European slave traders to whom they sold prisoners of war.
The complex consists of ten palaces, most of which are built next to each other according to the principles of architecture and cultural traditions of Ayia Fon. The palaces were intended for various ceremonies, with a maximum capacity of up to 8,000 people at a time. They housed not only the center of government of the kingdom, concentrated advanced techniques of crafts, but also kept the treasures of the kingdom. The complex is divided into two parts, as the palace of King Aqaba is separated from his father's house by one of the main thoroughfares of the city and residential areas. These two areas are surrounded by partially preserved blocks of walls.
The royal palace was a two-storey building called "kauri house". The palaces have the same infrastructure, each surrounded by walls and built with three courtyards. The use of traditional materials and multicolored bas-reliefs are important architectural features.
Today, the palaces are no longer inhabited, but the Historical Museum is located in the houses of King Gezo and King Gllele, the exposition of which illustrates the history of the kingdom and its symbolism (voodoo), resistance and the struggle against the colonial occupation for independence. At present, the complex is well guarded, in addition to the museum, it includes ritual sites, tombs of kings and is a venue for traditional ceremonies.
