Island of Gorée World Heritage Site

Official name

Island of Gorée | UNESCO

Country

Senegal | Map

Continent

Africa

Location

Cape Verde Region
14.6672° Lat, -17.4008° Lon | Map

Code

26

Time Zone

Africa/Dakar (GMT, +0000)

Current Time

Category

Cultural

Description

Inscribed 1978. The island of Gorée lies off the coast of Senegal, opposite Dakar. From the 15th to the 19th century, it was the largest slave-trading centre on the African coast. Ruled in succession by the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French, its architecture is characterized by the contrast between the grim slave-quarters and the elegant houses of the slave traders. Today it continues to serve as a reminder of human exploitation and as a sanctuary for reconciliation.