Things to Do in German Colonial Buildings

Governor's Palace Tour

The former German Governor's Palace dominates Lomé's skyline with its distinctive red-tiled roof and clock tower, where you can still hear the original German timepiece chiming the hour. Inside, faded murals depicting African wildlife share walls with photographs of Togolese independence celebrations, while the parquet floors creak beneath your feet in the grand ballroom where colonial officers once waltzed.

Cathedral of the Sacred Heart

This Gothic-revival cathedral's twin spires pierce Lomé's skyline, its weathered sandstone walls showing the strain of West African humidity. Inside, stained glass filters tropical light into jewel tones while the organ pipes - imported from Germany in 1903 - still produce haunting melodies during Sunday mass, their sound mixing with the faint scent of incense and old wood polish.

Customs House Photography

The old German Customs House sits practically swallowed by modern Lomé port, its arched windows now framing views of container ships rather than colonial clippers. You'll smell diesel mixing with sea salt while photographing the building's intricate stonework, where German craftsmen carved anchors and sailing ships into the coral limestone blocks.

German Cemetery Visit

Tucked behind a petrol station, the German military cemetery feels like stumbling into another century - iron crosses stand in neat rows while tropical vegetation threatens to reclaim the graves. The silence here is striking compared to Lomé's street noise, broken only by birdsong and the occasional passing motorcycle, with weathered headstones telling stories of soldiers who died far from home.

Central Post Office Architecture Walk

The 1905 post office building shows German colonial pragmatism - thick walls keep interiors surprisingly cool while high ceilings channel sea breezes. You can still spot original brass letter slots and the service counter's carved mahogany panels, though today it's more likely to echo with mobile phone ringtones than telegraph clicks.

Administrative Quarter - colonial-era buildings converted to guesthouses, where you wake to church bells from the German cathedral

Beach Road - seafront hotels with Atlantic views, though waves drown out city noise

Central Market area - budget guesthouses above fabric shops, morning calls to prayer mixing with port traffic sounds

Tokoin district - mid-range hotels near government offices, quieter evenings but longer walks to colonial sites

Aflao Road - border hotels catering to overland travelers, basic but convenient for early border crossings

Beach resort strip east of city - splurge-worthy properties where colonial history meets modern luxury