Ambohimanga

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Ambohimanga Royal Hill
UNESCO world heritage UNESCO World Heritage Emblem
Ambohimanga.jpg
Ambohimanga Palace
National territory: MadagascarMadagascar Madagascar
Type: Culture
Criteria : iii, iv, vi
Surface: 59 ha
Reference No .: 950
UNESCO region : Africa
History of enrollment
Enrollment: 2001  (session 25)

The royal hill of Ambohimanga in the province of Antananarivo Avaradrano in Madagascar was the seat of the kings of Merina until 1794 and the tomb of the kings of Madagascar until 1897 . He is since 2001 UNESCO - World Heritage Site .

The place and the fortified palace ( rova ) on the 1468 m high hill have existed since at least the 15th century. Most of the expansion to the royal seat took place under King Andriantsimitoviaminandriana (1740–45). Some of the outer fortifications were not built until the 19th century, after the capital had already been moved to Antananarivo . The uppermost part of the hill is covered by forest, which should protect the rova. Agriculture is only practiced on terraces in the lower areas. The complex also includes various places of religious and political importance: the court seat, a spring, an artificial lake, royal trees.

The sarcophagi of the kings stood on an area surrounded by a red and white fence, in wooden huts in the middle of the palace grounds. In 1897, in a vain attempt to break the kingdom's spiritual power, the French conquerors moved the tombs to Antananarivo and built barracks on the tomb. However, these were completely eliminated in 1904.

Ambohimanga has gained religious and political importance for the Malagasy people in the 500 years of its existence. It is an important symbol for the national identity and at the same time a holy place that is still visited by pilgrims not only from Madagascar.

Web links

Commons : Ambohimanga  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 18 ° 45 ′ 33 ″  S , 47 ° 33 ′ 46 ″  O