Brazzaville
Republic of the Congo · 320 m
Description
Brazzaville faces Kinshasa across the Congo river, and the two are the closest pair of capitals in the world with only the water between them. Ferries cross in twenty minutes. The city is low, green and unhurried, laid out by the French around the Poto-Poto quarter whose painting school has trained Congolese artists since 1951. The basilica of Sainte-Anne carries a green tiled roof over a parabolic concrete vault built in the 1940s. Brazza's mausoleum stands in marble by the river. Rapids begin just downstream where the river narrows, and the corniche looks out over them.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 5 days (optimal 3 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: June – August
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Basilique Sainte-Anne du Congo
- École de Peinture de Poto-Poto
- Corniche above the Congo rapids
- Ferry across to Kinshasa
- Mémorial Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza
- Marché Total in Bacongo
- Rumba bars and live orchestras at night
- Musée National du Congo
- Sapeurs and their parade of suits (Sunday)
- Case de Gaulle and the colonial quarter
- Les Rapides restaurants above the water
- Chutes de la Loufoulakari(Day trip)
- Tour Nabemba and the city skyline
- Grilled saka-saka and river fish
Getting there
- Airports:
- BZV
- Train stations:
- Brazzaville
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry