Abidjan Hotels

Hotels in city of Abidjan are often required by tourists who want a vacation in the city. Some people may need a hotel in Abidjan. You may want to go there on a visit to see the city. You may need to study there or work there. Or you may be on holiday in the Ivory Coast and may need to use the city and a base. You may want to see the city itself and see the culture the historic sites and sports or entertainment venues.

Abidjan is the largest city and former capital of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). It is the commercial and banking center of Côte d'Ivoire as well as the de facto capital (Yamoussoukro is the official capital.) It is also the most populous city in French-speaking Western Africa. It stands in Ébrié Lagoon on several converging peninsulas and islands, connected by bridges.

abidjan hotels

The Metropolitan area of Abidjan is located in Southern Côte d'Ivoire on the Ébrié Lagoon. The business district, the Plateau, is the centre of the city. It lies with Cocody, Deux Plateaux (the richest neighbourhood with mansions, typically inhabited by diplomats and the wealthy) and the slum area of Adjamé on the north shore of the lagoon, while Treichville and Marcory (mixed economically) lie to the south, Abobo-Doume and Yopougon to the west and Boulay Island in the middle of the lagoon. Further south lies Port Bouët, home to the airport and main seaport.

Abidjan was the third city to be the capital of Côte d'Ivoire, after Grand-Bassam and Bingerville. Bingerville is now considered to form a suburb of the current capital. Its populace, the Tchaman, were renamed ébrié, derived from the "quolibet" given to the lagoon pirates by the inhabitants of Grand-Bassam. As such, in their language, ébrié means "salty/dirty skin".

Under the direction of engineer, Houidaille, Bingerville was created in 1899. Following an epidemic of Yellow Fever, the colonies of Grand-Bassam decided to relocate here because of its healthy atmosphere. This was also when the Colonial government started its relocation to the remote village of Adjamé, which would come to be named Bingerville after the first governor of the colonies, Louis-Gustave Binger.

The future Abidjan, nearby, also situated by the Lagune n'doupé (Lagoon of Warm Waters, the future ébrié Lagoon) offered more space and greater possibilities for commercial expansion. The Petit-Bassam Wharf, the current Port Bouët, south of the metropolitan area, grew rapidly in competition with the Grand-Bissam Wharf, until then the principal economic gateway for the colony. In 1904, when Bingerville had not yet been completed, Abidjan became the principal economic pillar of the Côte d'Ivoire colonies, a primary relay point for distribution of European goods further inland, notably by an increasingly important Lebanese community.

On 10 August 1933, a decree was passed, moving the capital from Bingerville to Abidjan (or Abidjean), displacing many tchaman villages, which moved mostly to Adjame, the 'confluence" or "centre" for tchaman, located north of the Plateau and which again became the chief tchaman community. It is here that the community lost the "Sacred Drum" (A very characteristic drum which is currently in the possession of the Musée de l'Homme - the Museum of Man) as currency of blackmail, to force Tchaman participation in the construction of the Abidjan-Niger Railway system.

South of the Plateau District, currently the central district of the abidjan metropolitan area, the village of Dugbeyo was moved to the other side of the Lagoon, in Anoumabo, "the forest of the dogfish", which would later become the district of Treichville in 1934, renamed in honour of Marcel Treich-Laplène (1860-1890), the first explorer of Côte d'Ivoire and its first colonial administrator, considered its founder. Where Dugbeyo once stood, today the Avenue Treich-Laplène serves as the main bus and ferry terminal, and is also the location of Avenue Charles de Gaulle, commonly called Commercial street.

The city is designed along the usual colonial guidelines, on the basis of rather Utopian town-planning. The colonists inhabit The Plateau ("m'brato" in the Tchaman language) while the colonized people live in the north. The two zones were separated by the Gallieni Military Barracks, where the current Law Courts are located.

The Ébrié Lagoon lies in Côte d'Ivoire, separated for most of its length from the Atlantic Ocean by a narrow coastal strip. The 100 km long lagoon is linked to the sea by the Vridi Canal, while the Comoë River flows into it. The lagoon averages 4 km in width, and 5 m in depth. Abidjan and towns such as Grand Bassam, Bingerville, Jacqueville and Tiagba lie on the lagoon.

Cocody, is an upmarket suburb of Abidjan, marked by its abundance of mansions. Cocody is where most of the wealthy business people, ambassadors, and other affluent people live. The Université de Cocody is located in Cocody.

Ten communes

Abobo

Abobo is primarily made up of Working Class Housing.

Adjamé

Although small in size, Adjamé commune is a very important contributor to the Côte d'Ivoire economy due to a number of commercial activities. Unfortunately, Adjamé is prone to serious Health & Sanitation problems.

Attécoubé

The Banco forest, a national park, is within Attécoubé commune. Currently it is also known for a gigantic commercial complex, undoubtedly largest of Abidjan.

Cocody

Reputed for its residential districts (e.g.: 2-Plateau, Riviera), Cocody is also home to the University of Cocody - a publicly-owned establishment. The television house (RTI) is in Cocody. It should be noted that the President of the Republic resides in this commune.

Koumassi

Koumassi is the Industrial zone.

Biétry - Zone 4

Deluxe residential zone, many French live here.

Marcory

Marcory is primarily residential.

The Plateau

The Plateau is a Central Business District, whose tall buildings give Abidjan a modern aspect. Although the administrative capital of Côte d'Ivoire was moved to Yamoussoukro in 1983, republic institutions such as the Presidency, and the National Assembly are still within the Plateau.

Port-Bouët

The refinery (SIR) and the international Felix Houphouët-Boigny airport is located in Port-Bouët.

Treichville

The Port Authority of Abidjan is located in Treichville, the Harbour Zone is also an industrial park. Also located in Treichville are various other important establishments, like the Treichville State Swimming Pool (FART), Palais Omnisport de Treichville, cultural palace, and the Abidjan Hippodrome.

Île Boulay
Yopougon

Yopougon is composed of industrial and residential parks. It is also the most populated commune of Abidjan.

Each of these communes is governed by its own Municipal Corporation, headed by a Mayor.

Abobo, Adjamé, Attécoubé, Cocody, Plateau and Yopougon are located North of the Ébrié Lagoon (called Abidjan North) on the continental side of Abidjan.

Treichville, Koumassi, Marcory and Port-Bouët form part of Abidjan South.

Blokosso and Locodjro are villages included within the city and which maintain their cultural identity in the urban environment.

It should be noted that the distinction between Abidjan Ville and areas outside of Abidjan Ville is purely statistical, much like the distinction between Inner London and Outer London. The administration of the district is unified, covering both Abdijan Ville and areas outside of Abidjan Ville.

Football (Soccer) in the city have included or include ; ASEC Mimosas, Africa Sports National, Inconditionnel d'Adjamé, Jeunesse Club d'Abidjan, FC Satellite, Stade d'Abidjan, Stella Club d'Adjamé


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