Royal Palaces of Abomey
Fon royal builders · Abomey, Benin
The Royal Palaces of Abomey form a multi-generational royal complex created by successive rulers of the Kingdom of Dahomey. Earthen walls, courtyards, ceremonial halls and bas-relief decoration were repeatedly added, rebuilt and transformed as each king established his own palace precinct. The architecture is therefore best understood as an evolving urban and political landscape rather than a single completed building. Surviving and reconstructed portions preserve important evidence of Fon building traditions, royal ritual and spatial organization, and the ensemble is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.