The Giscardium

On 21 March 1983, President Félix Houphouët-Boigny made Yamoussoukro the capital of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. Schools, hotels, a presidential residence, a foundation, not to mention the world’s largest Basilica, Yamoussoukro, anchored almost at the centre of the country, is a symbol whose strength lies in its history. Until 1919, the place was called N’Gokro.

It was the birthplace of future President Félix Houphouët-Boigny in 1905. In 1919, N’Gokro was renamed Yamoussoukro, in honour of Queen Yamousso, who ruled the village at the beginning of the 20th century.

The town of Yamoussoukro has erased the village of N’Gokro, but its location is still known, within the grounds of the Presidential Residence.

President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, a planter, also had his home there.

Because of the two golden rams that adorn the porch, echoing the totem animal of the President, whose name is Boigny, it is known as the “Villa des Béliers”. A private home, it is the counterpart of the residence for foreign guests, whose construction was entrusted to the architect Olivier-Clément Cacoub, when it came to receiving official delegations.

Here, everything is straight lines and geometry.

The buildings, passageways and flowerbeds are laid out to the letter. Only two domes, including that of the Casablanca hut, punctuate the garden with their golden curves, while the sound of birdsong disturbs the silence. Yamoussoukro, a city without turbulence, evokes a feeling of peace.