Saint-Louis

Overview

The former capital of Senegal, looking very much like New Orleans, Saint Louis was built in 1659 on the continent, an island, and a peninsula. It is a city rich in history with narrow streets, wooden balconies and beautiful patios. Saint Louis was the main trading port during the eighteen and nineteen centuries and, like Goree Island was a major slave depot. The city can be visited on foot or in a traditional horse-drawn carriage. Its festivals, cultural life, and its joyous celebrations of holidays have gained a well-deserved reputation. From Saint Louis, exciting trips can be taken down the Senegal River to the traditional and historic towns of Podor, Bakel, and Matam with their distinctive mud architecture. An hour north lies the extraordinary Djoudj National Park, an oasis of freshness and tranquility that is home to 3 million birds during winter. In the south is the Langue de Barbarie National Park, a refuge for birds and sea turtles, which gather here to breed.

History