LE CASTEL

This is often the first place you go, at the southern tip of the island, to enjoy the superb view over Dakar and its bay. All the more so as the path leading to the summit is lined with colorful paintings by Senegalese artists, which you're more than welcome to take the time to admire. At the western end stands Fort Saint-Michel, built by the French in 1892 and on which the Slave Memorial was erected and inaugurated in 1999, a modern structure representing the hull and sail of a ship. Behind it, a telemeter dating from 1907, used to measure the distance of ships in order to adjust the cannons. Until recently, the top of the fort housed the open-air studio of Senegalese artist Balla Ngongo, who died in July 2023, where he exhibited a number of his works based on salvaged materials. Perhaps a local artist will soon replace him. On the other side of the castel, a cannon with a range of 14 km. It was used only once, on September 23, 1940, by Vichy France, to sink an English ship during the Battle of Dakar. The wreck still lies there, several meters underwater. A buoy marks the danger for boats, which is why the longboat that brings visitors to the island makes a wide turn before entering the harbor at the pier. At the time of Senegal's independence, the French sabotaged the cannon so that it could no longer be used. Before you leave, enjoy the breathtaking ocean views and take a deep breath of iodized air!