Where thousands of slaves passed through the "Door of No Return."

Tens of thousands of Africans rescued from slave ships passed through this gate before being settled in Sierra Leone.

The library houses an incredible collection of some of the world's most impressive books and manuscripts.

Lyon's miniature version of the Eiffel Tower was built as a statement in support of French secularism.

Lyon, France is home to two remarkably preserved Roman theaters, one dating back to 15 BCE.

This artistic fountain display pays homage to this area's theatrical history.

A monument to the more than one million enslaved Africans deported from the port of Ouidah.

Dozens of snakes are housed and worshipped within the walls of this Vodun temple.

Africa's Venice on stilts.

The Voodoo Superstore of the world.

An enormous public square and parade ground built to celebrate Ghana's independence.

The world's largest church atop a political fault line.

A comprehensive museum dedicated to Africa's oldest modern republic.

Empty since 1989, now falling into ruin.

The oldest of its kind in the country, this tree sits where formerly enslaved people are said to have founded the city of Freetown.

After Sierra Leone's railways shut down in 1974, a collection of engines and other artifacts spent decades hidden away in this old workshop—now a museum.

A 19th-century architectural masterpiece with ties to Gustave Eiffel.

This unique religious structure is an architectural gem with arresting ocean views.

This tiny, tranquil Senegalese island serves as a powerful symbol of the Atlantic slave trade.

This giant statue is the product of a mixture of corruption, Stalinist architecture, and North Korean manpower.

Despite a fraught and controversial history this African island holds a powerful monument to the tragedy of the slave trade.

The largest camel market in West Africa

An architectural relic that survived the hands of time.

Thousands of colorful pirogues showcase ingenious craftsmanship at the largest fishermen port in Nouakchott.