Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Senegal River. The entire bridge was rehabilitated in stages between 2008 and 2012, with
sections of the original bridge's crumbling metal spans replaced piece by piece with steel
replicas of the original design.
IFAN Museum
MUSEUM
( 33 961 1050; Quai Henri Jay; adult/child CFA600/350; 9am-noon & 3-6pm)
This heritage, art and
culture museum contains photos of famous Saint-Louis personalities, an informative his-
tory section (in French) and exhibits on local culture and topography including antique
dolls and exhibits on local flora and fauna.
Grand Mosque
RELIGIOUS, SPIRITUAL
(Ave Jean Mermoz)
The Maghreb-style building of the Grand Mosque in the north was con-
structed in 1847 on order of the colonial administration to appease the growing Muslim
population. The oddity of an attached clock tower betrays the designers' religious affili-
ation.
Les Ateliers Tësss
ARTS CENTRE
( 33 961 6860;
www.tesss.net
; Rue Khalifa Ababacar Sy; 9am-1.30pm, 3-8pm Mon-Sat)
Les Ateliers
Tësss displays beautiful woven products (you can see the artisans at work).
Guet N'Dar
VILLAGE
On the Langue de Barbarie, Guet N'Dar is a fantastically busy fishing town worth check-
ing out to observe local culture. Come here to watch dozens of
pirogues
being launched in
the morning, and fish being brought in, gutted and smoked on the shore in the afternoon.
SIGNARES
Founded in 1659, Saint-Louis was the first French settlement in Africa. A busy centre for the trade of goods and
slaves, it had developed into a large and wealthy town by the 1790s, marked by the cosmopolitan culture of a
large
métis
(mixed-race) community, which defines Saint-Louis' cultural make-up to this day. The
signares
(wo-
men of mixed race who married wealthy European merchants temporarily based in the city) are the most famous
example of this. They were essentially bourgeouis female entrepreneurs and formed a key part of the economic,
social, cultural and political make up of Saint-Louis, controlled most of the river trade and supported local Cath-
olic institutions.
