The Grand Marché d'Adjara in Porto-Novo is the ideal place to discover Benin's Yoruba atmosphere, offering local handicrafts, tam-tams, baskets and pottery. The city also reveals its colonial architecture. Benin, a small West African country, escapes the usual tourist circuits.

The beaches of the Gulf of Benin, the mountains, the green plains, the coconut plantations and the savannah offer a variety of landscapes. The country's history is marked by the slave tradeparticularly in Ouidah, where the Rue des Esclaves and the Porte de Non-Retour bear witness to this dark past. Voodoo, a fascinating religion, permeates the country. Cotonou, the largest city, is home to the Jonquet, a lively street leading to the Grand Marché de Dantokpa.

The fishing village of Ganviewith its houses on stilts, is a must, as is a pirogue trip to observe the akadja, fish traps.

Benin is ethnically diverse, with major groups such as the Fon and Adjapredominate in the south, while the Bariba and Somba are more numerous in the north. The majority of the population lives in rural areas, and more than half of the country practices animism as its main religion.

Benin, located in West Africa, offers an enriching tourist experience while preserving its rich culture. This French-speaking, politically stable country boasts a coastline on the Gulf of Guinea, mangroves and lagoons. The history of the ancients kingdoms of Abomey andAlladavoodoo culture with its spellbinding festivities, Pendjari Park, Somba countrya vibrant population, authentic craftsmanship and colourful markets make the Benin, an African destination to discover.