Sacred Forest of Kpassè
Forêt sacrée de Kpassè
A Vodun sacred forest where legend says King Kpassè of Ouidah transformed into a tree. Scattered through the woods are Vodun deity sculptures created by contemporary artists.
The Kpassè Sacred Forest lies in the north of Ouidah. According to legend, King Kpassè, who founded the city in the 16th century, transformed into an iroko tree here to hide from enemies, which made it a Vodun holy site. During the “Ouidah 92” Vodun art festival in 1992, Beninese artists created a group of brightly colored sheet-metal and concrete deity sculptures in the forest, including Hevioso, the god of thunder, and Gou, the god of iron. Guides explain the Vodun myths one by one. Admission, including the guided tour, costs about 2,000 to 3,000 West African CFA francs, and the walk takes about 1 hour. It is about 1.5 km from the Temple of Pythons.
Opening hours
About 08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Ouidah Museum of History
- Villa Ajavon – Fondation Zinsou Museum of Contemporary Art
- Temple of Pythons, Ouidah
- Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Ouidah
- Place Chacha (Place des Enchères)
- Central Mosque of Ouidah
- Route des Esclaves & Door of No Return, Ouidah