Palace of the Governors, Togo

The building was designed by a joint team of German and Togolese architects and engineers and was built between 1898 and 1905.

The original concept for the building was to construct a palace that would make an impression from long distances, such as boats coming to harbor in Lomé, its construction was started by the Governor August Köhler soon after Lomé was made the capital of the colony, one of the most prosperous German colonies, in an effort to show its power and prestige.

Constructed in a vast park, which was accessed previously through a gate made out of two elephant tusks more than two metres long, it is surrounded with terraces and possesses a patio similar to the one of the Royal Palace of King Toffa I, in Benin.

The palace was expanded by French authorities after 1914 as Togo was ceded by Germany following World War I.

[2] This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on January 8, 2002 in the Cultural category.