Everything about Libreville totally explained
Libreville (population 578,156
January 1,
2005) is the
capital and largest city of
Gabon. The city is a port on the
Komo River, near the
Gulf of Guinea, and a trade center for a
timber region.
History
The area was inhabited by the
Mpongwé tribe long before the
French acquired the land in
1839. The city was founded in
1843 as a trading station; a fort (fort d'Aumale) to keep the slaves awaiting for the boats to come and take them away. Freed slaves were sent there from the ship
L'Elizia, and in
1848 it was named Libreville (
French for "Freetown"). It was the chief port of
French Equatorial Africa from
1934 to
1946 and was the central focus of the
Battle of Gabon in
1940.
Libreville was named in imitation of
Freetown and grew only slowly as a
trading post and a minor
administrative centre to a population of 31,000 on independence in
1960. Since independence, the city has grown rapidly and now houses nearly half the national population.
Geography
From north to south, major districts of the city are the
residential area
Batterie IV,
Quartier Louis (known for its
nightlife),
Mont-Bouët and
Nombakélé (busy commercial areas),
Glass (the first European settlement in Gabon),
Oloumi (a major
industrial area) and
Lalala, a residential area. The city’s
port and
train station on the
Trans-Gabon Railway line to
Franceville lie in
Owendo, south of the main built-up area. Inland from these districts lie poorer residential areas.
Transport
Libreville International Airport is the largest airport in Gabon and is located around north of the city.
Culture and education
Sights in Libreville include the
National Museum of Arts and Traditions, the French
cultural centre,
St Marie’s Cathedral, the carved wood church of
St Michael, Nkembo, the
Arboretum de Sibang and two
cultural villages. Libreville's main
market lies in Mont-Bouët. Gabon's school of administration and school of law are in Libreville. Libreville also hosts the
Omar Bongo University (est. 1970), various research institutes and a library. Libreville is also known for having one of the best infastructures in all of
Sub-Saharan Africa.
Industry
The city is home to a
shipbuilding industry, brewing industry and sawmills. The city exports
raw materials such as wood,
rubber and cocoa from the city's main port, and the deepwater port at
Owendo.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Libreville'.
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