Arched doors and windows give Maison Wood its distinctive appearance. The Afro-Brazilian-style building is in Agbodrafo in the Maritime Region and is also known as Maison des Esclaves and Wood Home. Its striking arches draw the eye to the architecture. The building offers a chance to consider stylistic features and the structure of an actual building together.
Maison Wood: Architecture and History
It was built shortly after 1835 and occupied by John Wood, a Scottish merchant. At about 21 metres long and 10 metres wide, its dimensions give an idea of the house’s overall scale: it is roughly twice as long as it is wide. Inside are six rooms and a salon. The 1.50-metre-deep cellar extends around the entire perimeter of the building. This description of the cellar specifies both its depth and how far it extends along the house.
Aného Between Trade and the Colonial Era
Aného lies about 50 kilometres east of Lomé and close to the border with Benin. The city had been involved in transatlantic trade since the 15th century. This long historical timeline stretches further back than the construction of Maison Wood: in Aného, the focus is on the history of a city over centuries, while the house is of interest for its construction shortly after 1835 and the story of a single building.
Aného has many colonial buildings, including German examples. The city’s old buildings bear witness to the first contacts with European sailors and merchants, as well as to the colonial era. Aného Museum and the Zangbeto dance are among the distinctive visitor attractions. Check in advance on museum visiting options and dance dates. This lets you consider the city’s history and its distinctive attractions as different facets of Aného.
From Lakeside Relaxation to Activities
You can relax on the shore of Lake Togo. Activities include windsurfing, jet skiing and pedal boating, as well as a pirogue crossing towards Togoville. These options offer different experiences: on the one hand, water sports; on the other, a crossing by pirogue. Depending on your interests, you can focus on spending time by the water or on the journey towards Togoville. Check in advance on current availability if you plan to include any of these activities in your itinerary.
A Wider View of Togo
Looking beyond Maritime to the wider destination of Togo brings other landscape and cultural themes into view. In northeastern Togo, the UNESCO-listed cultural landscape of Koutammakou includes farmland and forest. In Kara, theatre, music and dance performances take place in the city’s performance venues and leisure centres. Koutammakou represents a cultural landscape, while Kara is associated with the performing arts in urban venues.
Discover more destinations: Golfe, Kara, Plateaux, Centrale Region.
Go to the main travel overview: Togo.
