First discovered by the Portuguese explorer Dias in 1444, the Isle Of Goree Senegal off the coast of Senegal was colonised by the Dutch in 1817 and was later ruled by English and French powers. Goree served as a way station for Dutch ships sailing the trade route between the Gold Coast of Ghana and the Indies.
Isle Of Goree Senegal
In Isle Of Goree Senegal between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries Goree served as the largest centre of slave trade on the African coast. An estimated 40 million Africans were held here as they waited in anguish to be shipped to the Americas.
Built by the Dutch in 1776, and preserved in its original state, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Slave House, or Maison des Esclaves, featuring the ‘Door of No Return’ is an emotional shrine and pilgrimage site for those wishing to reflect upon the horrors of the period.
Elder Bedic Ethnic In Senegal, Isle Of Goree
Some historians argue that Goree was not the site of the transportation of such immense numbers of slaves, but no one can disagree with the awe and contemplation that the imposing, silent walls of the Slave House inspire.
Other points of interest in Isle Of Goree Senegal include the French provincial architecture of the church of Saint-Charles on the Place de I’Eglise, the picturesque ruins of Fort Nassau, the Castle of Saint-Michel, which was originally built on the steep basalt hill by the Dutch in the seventeenth century, and the Historical Museum in the old Fort Estrees. Also worth a visit are the Botanical Gardens on the Rue du Port. If you want to take a dip, there is a small swimming beach near the ferry slipway.
What Is Isle Of Goree Senegal
A former French colonial-occupied Island.
Where Is Isle Of Goree Senegal
3 km (1.8 mi) from the capital of Dakar by ferry.
Why Is Isle Of Goree Senegal Important
It was once the home to the largest slave trade in Western Africa.
What Is To See When Traveling To The Isle Of Goree Senegal
Visit the Maison des Esclaves, or Slave House with its ‘Door of No Return’.
Isle Of Goree Senegal Also Known As
The name Goree comes from the Dutch ‘Goeree’ meaning ‘Island’ or possibly ‘Goode Reede’ meaning ‘good harbour’ for its sheltered bay.
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