THE GRAND-BASSAM LIGHTHOUSE

If you were within a 30-kilometer radius of this 17-meter-tall gem, you would have seen a light illuminating the very spot where you now stand.

Indeed, the Grand-Bassam lighthouse was fully operational for 36 years, from March 1915 (the date it was commissioned) to 1951 (the year it was permanently decommissioned). It was built between 1913 and 1914. The construction of this lighthouse was essential to ensure the safety of maritime navigation.

The waters of Grand-Bassam were considered treacherous, as the coastline was dangerous and the sandbanks posed a formidable challenge for sailors. Another landmark date is July 1, 2012, when the lighthouse was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List alongside the city of Grand-Bassam.