Remains of Henri Christophe's royal palace, construction of which began in 1806.
It was in the village of Milot, 20 km from Cape Town and at the foot of Bonnet-de-l’Evêque, that King Christophe had the Sans-Souci Palace built. On an area of ​​eight hectares were concentrated the essential elements of its absolute power: the barracks and the arsenal, symbols of military power, the administrative buildings (ministries, Council of State whose ruins are close to the current church) , jails, etc. Fountains and basins embellished the vast gardens surrounded by wrought iron and stone posts. On a vast terrace, one will notice a caïmitier under which, it is said, the monarch liked to dispense expeditious justice. The royal residence, inaugurated in 1813, was looted on the death of Christophe and partially destroyed by the earthquake of 1842.
Surrounded by mountain ranges, the Sanssouci Palace is embellished with gardens, ponds and fountains. This large architectural ensemble responded to the need to concentrate most of the administrative functions of the new monarchy around the royal residence.
These remains are not lacking in grandeur and it is hoped that in the near future UNESCO will be able to carry out work at Sans-Souci of the same quality as that carried out at the citadel.
Posted, July 28, 2022