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Capital city of Ivory Coast
Photo: HONORE BOSSON, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Yamoussoukro is the capital of Côte d'Ivoire and is perhaps the single most bizarre modern city on Earth. It is a large grid of paved streets and lights with almost nothing at all in between them. It would seem that former President Felix Houphouet-Boigny's dream that his home town would become a busy capital city never came to fruition. The streets are now potholed, the lights no longer work and the jungle is reclaiming them in places. Nevertheless "Yam" is worth a visit.
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The largest Christian church in the world is the most remarkable legacy of Houphouet-Boigny. Although it doesn't seat nearly as many worshippers, it is structurally larger than St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City (after which it was modeled), with a greater surface area and higher dome. As a condition of his attendance at the basilica's consecration, Pope John Paul II insisted that a hospital be built nearby, and he laid the cornerstone for it during his visit; the stone still stands alone.
Cathédrale Saint-Augustin de Yamoussoukro
Much smaller cathedral in the city centre.
Stade de Yamassoukro
Home to the national football team.
Simple but spacious and very clean double rooms with shower and toilet.
Purpose-built modernist luxury hotel, on-site restaurants, nightclub and a large swimming pool.
By car
A very good motorway (toll road/Péage) links Yamoussoukro with Abidjan. It takes 2.5 hours by car. It takes 1.5 hours from Bouaké on a potholed road.
By plane
By rail
Yamoussoukro is not served by rail. The nearest station is in the town of Dimbokro, about 70 km east of the city.
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Bouaké · Regional · BYK
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