Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo

Brazzaville is the capital and biggest city in the Republic of the Congo. Covering 100 sq km (40 sq mi) on the northern bank of the Congo River, Brazzaville has a population of over a million people (2012 estimate), within a metropolitan area of 1.5 million people. It is situated across the Congo River from Kinshasa, a much bigger city within sight.

Brazzaville was founded in 1880 by Franco-Italian explorer, Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, who gave his name to the city. It was established on the site of a village of the Bateke tribe. The local chief signed a treaty of protection which made the site part of the French Empire.It was built to compete with Belgian-controlled Kinshasa, then known as Léopoldville. To prevent the newly established city from being harassed by Belgian troops, the French stationed troops there to protect it.

Nabemba Tower in downtown Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nabemba.jpg
Author: Thomas doerfer


In the 1960s, Brazzaville was given commune status, and divided into seven neighborhoods or arrondissements. For much of the 20th century, the city became the staging ground for various civil wars between government forces and rebel forces, as well as conflicts with neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola.

Visiting Brazzaville

There are flights to Brazzaville from Addis Ababa, Bamako, Casablanca, Cotonou, Douala, Dubai, Islamabad, Johannesburg, Karachi, Kigali, Kinshasa, Lagos, Lahore, Libreville, Lomé, Nairobi, N'Djamena, Paris and Pointe-Noire, among others.

Places of Interest in Brazzaville

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips