Island of Saint-Louis


World Heritage Identification Number: 956

World Heritage since: 2000

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇸🇳 Senegal

Continent: Africa

UNESCO World Region: Africa

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A Cultural and Economic Hub: The Island of Saint-Louis, Senegal

The Island of Saint-Louis, located at the mouth of the Senegal River in West Africa, stands as a testament to the rich history and cultural significance of Senegal. This historic part of the city of Saint-Louis was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000, recognizing its unique urban planning, architectural style, and pivotal role in the region's development.

More to come…

UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Founded as a French colonial settlement in the 17th century, Saint-Louis was urbanised in the mid-19th century. It was the capital of Senegal from 1872 to 1957 and played an important cultural and economic role in the whole of West Africa. The location of the town on an island at the mouth of the Senegal River, its regular town plan, the system of quays, and the characteristic colonial architecture give Saint-Louis its distinctive appearance and identity.

Encyclopedia Record: Island of Saint-Louis

The Island of Saint-Louis is the historic part of the city of Saint-Louis in Senegal. In 2000, it was inscribed by the UNESCO on the World Heritage list.

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Additional Site Details

Area: Not available

UNESCO Criteria: (ii) — Significant interchange of human values
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape

Coordinates: 16.02778 , -16.50444

Image

Image of Island of Saint-Louis

© Jim Williams, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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Nearby World Heritage Sites

Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary
52 km — Senegal
Island of Gorée
179 km — Senegal
Saloum Delta
244 km — Senegal
Stone Circles of Senegambia
280 km — Gambia, Senegal
Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites
302 km — Gambia

Country Information: Senegal

Flag of Senegal

Official Name: Republic of Senegal

Capital: Dakar

Continent: Africa

Population (2024): 18,501,984

Population (2023): 18,077,573

Population (2022): 17,651,103

Land Area: 192,530 sq km

Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Island of Saint-Louis are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Island of Saint-Louis, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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