route de
l'esclave
Benin
The Slave Route in Benin is a historical and cultural trail located in Ouidah, a town emblematic of the slave trade in West Africa. The trail begins at Place Chacha, a former slave market where captives were sold. It then follows a symbolic path taken by slaves to the coast.
THE PROJECT :
Landscaping of the Route de l’esclave in Benin
THE WORK :
Earthworks, planting, rest stops
DETAILS:
CLIENT : SOGEA – VINCI pour Ministère du Cadre de vie et des Transports
Project
context
The slave route in Ouidah, where history meets the future
The Slave Route in Ouidah is one of the most significant memorial sites in Benin and the Atlantic world. Approximately four kilometers long, it retraces the journey taken by hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children who were enslaved and deported to the Americas between the 17th and 19th centuries.
This symbolic path begins at Chacha Square, the nerve center of the slave trade, where transactions between African and European traders took place. It continues through several points of remembrance such as the Tree of Oblivion, the Tree of Return, and the Zomaï Hut, ending at the beach with the majestic Door of No Return, a monument erected in tribute to the victims of the transatlantic slave trade.
Today, the Slave Route is a place of contemplation, historical transmission, and reflection on the universal values of dignity, freedom, and shared memory. A major site of Beninese cultural heritage, it welcomes visitors, researchers, artists, and descendants of the African diaspora who come to understand, remember, and honor the memory of the victims of slavery.
Work
carried out
landscaping for a historic site
- Creation of a pedestrian rest area - Supply and planting of various plants - Various improvements to the Arbre de l'oubli
- Preparatory earthworks
- Framework and roofing for pedestrian shelters
- Supply and planting of plants
- Arbre de l'oubli : Coreten steel barrier around the tree supporting the climbing plants
- Pedestrian stops: excavation, concrete footings - tech beams, retaining walls, guardrails, wooden seats on low walls
- Preparatory work: cutting, weeding, clearing of shrubs and plants not retained in the project Clearing of vegetation on the plantation site, roads and structures, areas to be cleared or backfilled Supply and installation of laterite for footpaths - compaction and staking Addition of 5,000 m3 of topsoil, planting of trees and shrubs along a 3 km road and installation of street furniture (benches, toilets)
of experience
worldwide
permanent
Other achievements
of exceptional landscaping
A nurseryman by birth, Gregori International specializes in large-scale turnkey landscaping projects. We’re with you every step of the way, from preliminary study to maintenance, taking care to respect the heritage of the soil and the environment.
