Places to Visit in Bohicon, Abomey, Benin, Africa

Places to Visit in Bohicon, Abomey, Benin, Africa

Bohicon is a city, situated near the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Abomey, in the Zou Department in Benin, around 130 kilometers northwest of the country’s commercial capital, Cotonou. Bohicon is located at 07°12′00″ N 02°04′00″ E on the railway line leading from Cotonou to Parakou. The city of Bohicon covers an area of 44 square kilometers.

The most important landmarks of Bohicon include the Bohicon Railway Station, Bohicon Mosque and Collège Monseigneur Steinmetz. Bohicon is also home to a church belonging to the Jehovah’s Witnesses and a grand hotel, named Jardin de l’Hotel de Ville De Bohicon. Following Cotonou and Parakou, Bohicon is the 3^rd largest trade center of Benin.

History of Bohicon:

Bohicon is one of the modern cities of Benin, founded in the 20^th century with the establishment of the central market and the railway station. Bohicon was originally called Gboxicon which means “market sheep” indicating the wide sheep market in the area.

How to reach Bohicon?

The Cotonou Airport is the nearest major international airport to Bohicon and handles flights from Abidjan, Accra, Lomé, N’Djamena, Pointe, Accra, Malabo, Abidjan, Bamako, Nouakchott, Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam and many other Beninese and international destinations. The airport is located around 130 kilometers away from Bohicon which can be crossed by bus or train or bush taxi.

Due to its position on the Cotonou–Parakou railway line, Bohicon is easily accessible from all the major southern and northern Beninese cities by train.

Shopping and Food in Bohicon:

Bohicon is known for its upgraded textile industry with products like cushions and mattresses which are accessible at the local market of the city at reasonable prices.

Afitin is a local special food which can be tasted at The Maquis Malodie Market of Bohicon.

Things to do in Bohicon:

Visiting archeological sites
City tours
Shopping

What to see in Bohicon?

Parc Archeologique d’Agongointo:

The Agongointo Archaeological Park or Parc Archeologique d’Agongointo is home to a group of 56 subterranean homes dating from the 17^th to 18^th centuries. It is allowed for visitors from 9:00am-5:00pm every day. Entrance fee, including a guided tour is 2.000F sofa. It is a must visit.

Bohicon Mosque:

The Bohicon Mosque is one of the religious sites, landmarks and tourist attractions of Bohicon. It is frequented by devotees year round for its holiness and tourists for its impressive construction.

The Maquis Malodie Market:

The Maquis Malodie Market is a famous among traders and also attract tourists for many stalls with a variety of traditional crispy and crunchy eateries including omelette.

The Royal Palaces of Abomey:

Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Royal Palaces of Abomey are one of the recognized historic tourist attractions of Algeria and is located in the nearby city, Abomey, around 10 kilometers away from Bohicon. These are more than 10 palaces and were built between 17^th and 19^th centuries during the Kingdom of Dahomey.

Musée Historique d’Abomey:

Located in Abomey, the Musée Historique d’Abomey is a museum describing the history of the Kingdom of Dahomey with artifacts and other well preserved objects from that period. Admission fee is CFA 2500 including a guided tour.

List of the other tourist attractions in Bohicon includes:

Lycée Technique de Bohicon
Collège Monseigneur Steinmetz
Bohicon Railway Station
The Jehovah’s Witnesses Church
Chez Yemadje
Palace of King Kpengla
Palace of King Ghezo
Palace of King Angoglo
Palace of King Agaja

When to visit in Bohicon?

The best time to visit Bohicon is during the months between November and February.

Where to stay in Bohicon?

Bohicon houses a few modernized hotels and for more comfort, visitors can head towards nearby Abomey or the commercial capital of Benin, Cotonou, both of which are accessible by bus from Bohicon. The famous hotels in Bohicon, Abomey (10 kilometers) and Cotonou (130 kilometers) include: