//
A bizarre Cold War anachronism, this traffic circle features a larger-than-life statue - seemingly rising out of nowhere - of Bulgaria's first Communist leader, Georgi Dimitrov. There used to also be a statue of Lenin in the city, but it was torn down when Benin ceased its efforts to become a communist nation.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Run by one of Benin's first families (current head Lionel was defeated in a presidential election in 2016), the Fondation Zinsou is devoted to showing contemporary art in Benin and providing supporting arts education for children. Their main Cotonou gallery hosts rotating exhibitions and is probably the best place to snag a peek of contemporary Beninese art, though the Fondation also exhibits internationally-renowned artists to provide the Beninese public the chance to see these works in person. An institution worthy of any city, but acutely needed in Cotonou.
The Institut Français is a fixture of the Cotonou cultural scene, holding concerts, film screenings, theater, stand-up comedy, and more.
Red Star
A roundabout that is another tribute to Benin's communist past in the form of a large red star, but you are probably better able to see it from a plane if you get the chance upon departure or arrival.
Martyrs' square
A big North Korean-built monument to those who died fighting against colonialism. Hosts artists, a food truck, and occasional public concerts.
The largest mosque, and possibly all of Benin, it's a center of it all for Cotonou's Muslim communities. Zongo is a Hausa word meaning "foreigner", which gives an idea of the pan-Africanness you'll find in the neighborhood.
Statue to honor the Agodjié (Amazone) women warriors of Abomey, Kingdom of Dahomey, as popularized in the movie The Woman King.