Western Africa
Discover Nok Cave Granaries, Notre-Dame du Lac Togo sanctuary, Palais de Lome restored front and more.
Explore 5 illustrated places, read the stories behind them and look closer on the globe.
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architecture
The caves of Nok belong to a group of northern Togolese cliff sites containing granaries. Builders used local stone, clay and straw to create storage structures inside difficult-to-reach shelters. These places helped communities retain supplies during periods of conflict and displacement. They also remain connected with living beliefs that require respectful interpretation.
Source: State Party submission / UNESCO World Heritage Centre
heritage
Notre-Dame du Lac Togo is a Marian sanctuary in Togoville. Pilgrims gather here on the northern side of Lake Togo. Notice how the detached bell tower differs from the church front, where pointed niches and painted panels surround the entrance.
Source: Republique Togolaise
art
Completed in 1905, the former governors' palace was restored as an arts and culture centre. Its white arches and shaded wooden galleries reveal a building adapted to the coastal climate. The restoration brought archival research and local building skills together.
architecture
Sacred Heart Cathedral is a familiar landmark near Lome's market. Construction began in 1901. The front combines pointed arches, a large rose window and a clock beneath twin slender spires. Look through the tower openings to see how light makes the heavy facade appear delicate.
Source: The Holy See
memory
Woold Home is remembered as a place connected with the trafficking of enslaved people on Togo's coast. Its weathered walls and low openings remind us that places of great historical consequence can look unassuming. The building appears on Togo's UNESCO Tentative List; that is different from World Heritage inscription.
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre
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