Bohicon: Archaeology, Market History and Lio

Bohicon can be explored through several distinct themes: archaeological history, the story of the international market, Lio at the central market and cycling routes in the municipality. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Bohicon, these interests can help you choose the focus of your trip. Rather than putting an arbitrary collection of activities in the foreground, the question is which aspects of the place interest you most.

Agongointo: Archaeology, Knowledge of Nature and Craftsmanship

The Agongointo open-air archaeological museum offers insights into archaeological history, the properties of plants and Vodoun. Agongointo also provides insights into the history, biodiversity and crafts of the Kingdom of Dahomey. Together, these make for a wide range of themes: history and archaeology sit alongside knowledge of nature and craft traditions. This can help guide your travel planning if you want to give particular weight to Bohicon’s cultural and historical aspects.

The underground village of Agongointo-Zoungoudo is another of Bohicon’s archaeological sites. It was discovered in 1998 during road construction. Its constructed cavities lie several metres underground; the village comprises 56 underground houses called “Ahwando,” spread across approximately seven hectares. The year of discovery, depth, number and approximate area give the site a specific historical and spatial scale. Here, the focus is on the underground settlement and the circumstances of its discovery.

Market History and Lio

Lio, a maize paste, is sold at Bohicon’s central market. For travellers who want to get to know a place through its food, Lio is a tangible local connection. The market also has a traditional origin story: according to one tradition, the origin of today’s international market can be traced to a challenge between two brothers who wanted to test their mystical powers. The story offers a different perspective from the food itself: alongside Lio, it brings the traditional story of the market into focus.

More Things to Explore in Bohicon

The private Dako zoological park is located in Houawé. The municipality of Bohicon also has numerous cycling routes. The range of themes therefore extends beyond markets and archaeology: a zoological park and cycling routes offer further options for planning your trip. Which of these interests matters most to you can be a helpful starting point when considering Bohicon as a destination.

Bohicon and the Broader Destination of Zou

Those who look beyond Bohicon to the broader destination of Zou will find other clearly defined themes. Covè has thermal springs with a small waterfall of water at 36 degrees Celsius. The palace of King Zéhé d’Agolin is also in Covè. These natural and cultural attractions are in Covè and belong to the broader destination of Zou, not to the places in Bohicon described here.

Abomey adds the history of the Kingdom of Danxomè to this regional perspective. The Royal Palaces of Abomey were founded in the 17th century and successively served as the residence of twelve rulers of the kingdom. Royal courtyards, carved bas-reliefs and historical collections tell the story of the kings and Amazons of Danxomè. The Musée historique d’Abomey was founded in 1944 under the colonial administration. This makes it possible to distinguish Bohicon’s archaeological and market-related themes from Abomey’s distinct historical connections.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Trip

For people travelling together with different interests, it may help to compare the themes: should Bohicon’s archaeology be the deciding factor, are you especially interested in Lio and the market tradition, or would you also like to include places such as Covè and Abomey in the broader destination of Zou? This decision can help determine the regional focus of your trip. If Bohicon itself is the main focus, you can search for a holiday apartment in Bohicon; if you want to include other destinations in Zou, plan within this broader geographical area.

Discover more destinations: Bohicon, Abomey.

Go to the broader travel overview: Zou.