The capital of Congo is a city with a difficult to remember name Brazzaville. It is also the cultural and industrial center of the country. The capital of Congo, the photo of which, unfortunately, is rarely seen in the photo albums of our tourists, is located on the right bank of the river of the same name.
The surrounding area of Brazzaville is replete with diverse representatives of the fauna, among which there are giraffes, antelopes, cheetahs, crocodiles, as well as numerous snakes and birds.
The capital of Congo is quite large, by African standards, the city and has about 1 million inhabitants. The ethnic composition of Brazzaville mainly includes representatives of African peoples (bateke, bakongo, mboshi and others), but also a small percentage of Americans and Europeans live here.
Brazzaville dates back to 1880, when a French military post was founded here. Those days are characterized by the active development of the territory of the Congo by the French and their attempts to establish total control over some parts of Africa. To achieve their goals, the French needed a reliable fortification on the Congo River.
Very quickly, the city became the largest trading point, and a few years later became the administrative center of the French colony in Congo. In 1960, the colony gained independence and became known as the Republic of the Congo, whose capital remained in Brazzaville. The official language here is French, but Bantu languages are also widely used.
Today, the capital of Congo is a real cultural center of the country. The largest number of both primary and secondary schools is concentrated here. In addition, the city has vocational schools and the National University opened in 1972. Brazzaville also has two institutes: Pasteur and the Institute for Central African Studies. The capital of Congo also has a National Museum, which conducts extensive educational work, and the National Theater of the Republic, complementing the cultural life of the local population.
As for the architecture of the city, here you can find a unique and bizarre combination of modern and traditional African buildings. The list of architectural and historical sights of Brazzaville includes the Cathedral Church of St. Anne, built in 1949, the building of Air France airline, an air line hotel, a stadium, a lyceum, as well as a four-story bank building.
When you are in Brazzaville, be sure to visit the Cascade of Congo River Falls. If you are a fan of water sports, then be sure to visit the nearby rivers - Niara, Qilu and Jouet.
To buy souvenirs, you can visit both local numerous shops and the crafts center located in Poto-Poto and representing an exhibition-fair of works of applied art by local craftsmen. For the best clay and wickerwork, it is recommended to go to the villages of Makan and M'Pila, which are located just three kilometers from the city.