Temples and cathedrals in Libreville

Answer: The National Museum of Arts and Traditions of Gabon holds a collection of ritual masks of the Fang and Punu peoples, created in the XIX-XX centuries. St. Mary’s Cathedral, built in 1958 by French missionaries, combines neo-Gothic with elements of African architecture. Built in the 1970s, the Presidential Palace showcases a mix of modernism and traditional Gabonese architecture using native woods.

Answer: The Gabon National Assembly building, designed in the 1960s by Omar Bongo, represents a unique example of post-colonial African modernism. The French Fort Aumey, founded in 1849, preserved the original powder warehouses and barracks of the colonial period. In the Mont Boue quarter, historic villas from the 1930s showcase a Creole style with verandas and carved wooden shutters.

Answer: The Sibit Botanical Garden, founded in 1980, contains 450 species of tropical plants, including endemic orchids and predatory nepentheses. Pointe Denis beach with fine golden sand and a gentle entrance to the ocean is ideal for bathing children. In the Craft Village of Louis, children can watch the work of masters in wood carving and weaving baskets from raffia.

Answer: The waterfront of Leon Mba with palm alleys and bronze statues of Mpongwe leaders offers panoramas of the Gulf of Guinea. Mont Bouet Market with its colorful trays of spices, fabrics and traditional masks is a living palette of African color. The mosaic panels on the facade of the National Library, created by artist Georges M'Bumba, reflect the mythology of the Teke people.

Answer: Rock Bakota, towering over the bay, according to the legends of the Mpongwe people, was a place of sacrifice to the sea spirit of Njembe. The National Museum houses the Ewuzok Mask, a ritual artifact that is believed to predict droughts. Legend has it that the underground springs here have healing power thanks to the blessing of the shaman Effil in 1893.

Answer: The Chapel of St. Michael in the Ovendo area, built in 1927, has preserved the original stained glass windows with images of African saints. The private gallery Art Factory houses a collection of contemporary Gabonese painting, including works by the pioneer of abstractionism, Serge N'Gue. The ruins of the first French station in 1843 are hidden in the mangroves of the mouth of the Como River.