Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
try), comprised the upper echelon, while the
hova
, or commoners, made up the
middle class. The remainder - descendants of former slaves - were known as
the
andevo
(workers).
The first Merina kingdoms were established around the 16th century, and by
the late 19th century they were the dominant tribe in Madagascar. Ordinary
Merina citizens customarily worked as administrators, shopkeepers, teachers
and traders. Their position was enhanced by the choice of Antananarivo as the
seat of the French colonial government, and by the establishment of an educa-
tion system there.
Today, the Merina are still among the best-educated Malagasies and many re-
main at the forefront of public life: former president Marc Ravalomanana and
the president of the transitional high authority Andry Rajoelina are both Merina.
GETTING THERE & AWAY
Ambohimanga is 21km north of Antananarivo and easily visited as a day trip in combin-
ation with Ilafy. Taxis-bes (route H) leave throughout the day from Ambodivona (Ar700,
one hour). From the village, you'll need to walk 1km up the hill to the Rova.
Lac Mantasoa
This 2000-hectare artificial lake, built in 1931, is a good place for fishing, sailing and pic-
nicking, and has become a popular weekend retreat for Antananarivo residents. The hotels
on the lakeside all offer boating, waterskiing, pedalo, fishing and more. The lake also holds
a special place in history as being the site where Madagascar's industrial revolution started.
In 1833, Frenchman Jean Laborde (
Click here
)
built a country palace for Queen
Ranavalona I, as well as carpentry and gunsmith shops, a munitions factory, an iron forge
and a foundry. The primary aim was to supply the monarch with swords, arms and am-
munition. Much of this was destroyed in 1851 when slaves rebelled, whilst other parts now
lie underwater, but some notable buildings can still be seen and visited in the village of
Mantasoa, offering a fascinating insight into Madagascar's heyday as an industrial power-
house.
Laborde's home
( 8am-4pm Mon-Sat, noon-4pm Sun) is a lovely traditional, wood-
clad house complete with sculpted wooden tiles reminiscent of fish scales. Inside there
are old photographs and sparse furniture but a fair amount of biographical information (in
French).
You can also see Laborde's
grave
in the local cemetery at the top of the village: the in-
dustrialist rests in a grand stone mausoleum, surrounded by 12 soldiers' tombs. As for the
