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Notsé

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City
—°3
Notsé (Togo)
ℹ️

Practical info — Notsé

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🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

  • The best time to visit is September for the Agbogbo-Zan festival, commemorating the Ewe exodus.
  • Explore the remains of the Agbogbo Wall, the ancient mud fortifications of the city.
  • Carry enough cash (XOF) as ATMs are very rare and credit cards are not accepted.
  • Hire a local guide to visit the Royal Palace and understand the deep spiritual history.
  • Taste the local pineapples; Notsé is the pineapple capital of Togo.

🍽 Food

🍽
Fufu with Azindessi

Pounded yams served with a rich, spicy peanut sauce, a staple of the region.

🍽
Fresh Notsé Pineapples

Known for being exceptionally sweet; buy them from roadside stands or the main market.

🍽
Pinon

A savory dish made from gari (cassava flour) cooked with tomato and spices, often with pork.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍
Notsé Market

A great place for spirited local textiles and fresh agricultural produce.

🛍
Roadside Pineapple Stands

Essential stop on the RN1 for the freshest local fruit.

🧘
Agbogbo Wall Ruins

The ancient earthen walls offer a contemplative space to reflect on Ewe history.

🧘
Hilly Savanna Outskirts

Walk just outside the town for peaceful views of the surrounding agricultural landscape.

Notsé lies about 95 kilometres north of Lomé in the Plateaux Region and is regarded as the spiritual and historical cradle of the Ewe people. In the 16th and 17th centuries the town served as the capital of a powerful Ewe kingdom ruled by the legendary but tyrannical King Agokoli. The high mud walls, whose remains can still be seen around the town, were built to defend the city. According to legend, the Ewe eventually fled Agokoli's tyranny by softening one section of the wall through nightly watering, allowing them to break through and disperse to their current homelands - an event commemorated each September during the great Agbogbo-Zan festival, which brings thousands of Ewe back to Notsé from Togo, Ghana and Benin. Today Notsé is also an important centre for pineapple and maize cultivation, and the town hosts a modern museum dedicated to Ewe history and migration.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Nov, Dec.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C272828282726252525262626
Rain mm1530721041431771891452141493214

Geography

Population
35,039 (2024)
Coordinates
6.95000, 1.16670

Facts

  • Notsé is located about 95 km north of Lomé on the N1 highway.
  • The city became the center of the Ewe kingdom in the 17th century.
  • The historical earthen walls once spanned a circumference of 14 km.
  • The Agbogbo-Zan festival is celebrated annually in September.
  • The region is Togo's primary production center for pineapples.
  • The city serves as the administrative capital of Haho Prefecture.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Notsé PlainNotsé Plain2 km · SExplore →
Walls of NotséWalls of Notsé6 km · EExplore →
German Bridge of AmakpapéGerman Bridge of Amakpapé28 km · WExplore →
WahalaWahala28 km · EExplore →
Slave Well of ChillaSlave Well of Chilla35 km · NEExplore →
Togodo ForestTogodo Forest39 km · NExplore →
Mount TadoMount Tado43 km · NEExplore →
Tado HillsTado Hills46 km · NExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):

© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Sights in the town Notsé (3)

Moulin📍 landmark

A prominent traditional windmill structure located within the historic city of Notsé.

Le berceau du Peuple Ewe🏺 historical

A significant monument in Notsé celebrating the city's status as the ancestral cradle of the Ewe people.

Pavements de Dakpodji🏺 historical

An archaeological site in Notsé featuring ancient stone pavements that reveal the region's historical urban layout.

Frequently asked questions

What is the historical significance of Notsé?
Notsé is the historical heartland of the Ewe people in Togo.
Are there sights for history enthusiasts?
Yes, the ancient city walls and cultural memorial sites are very significant.
How long does a visit to Notsé take?
A full day is sufficient to see the most important sites.
When is the best time to travel?
The dry season from November to March is the most pleasant.
Is the city easy to reach?
Yes, it is easily accessible on the main road in the center.
Notsé: where is it located?
Notsé is located in Togo.
Notsé: what is there to see?
Highlights include Moulin, Le berceau du Peuple Ewe, Pavements de Dakpodji.
Notsé: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Nov, Dec.
Notsé: why is it worth visiting?
Notsé lies about 95 kilometres north of Lomé in the Plateaux Region and is regarded as the spiritual and historical cradle of the Ewe people.
View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →
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Nearby cities

Atakpamé — Notsé (Togo)
Atakpamé
Atakpamé is perched on hills, offering a refreshing break from the coastal heat.
Hiheatro — Notsé (Togo)
Hiheatro
Hiheatro is located near Atakpamé and serves as an important rural center.
Kpalimé — Notsé (Togo)
Kpalimé
Kpalimé is Togo's tourist jewel, surrounded by dense forests and waterfalls at the foot of Mount Agou.
Anié — Notsé (Togo)
Anié
Anié is a strategic railway and road junction in the central region.
Badou — Notsé (Togo)
Badou
Badou is tucked away in a lush valley near the Ghanaian border and is a major center for coffee cultivation.
Tohoun — Notsé (Togo)
Tohoun
Tohoun is located right on the border with Benin and serves as a significant hub for cross-border trade.
Agou — Notsé (Togo)
Agou
Agou is located right at the foot of Togo's highest peak, Mount Agou.
Wahala — Notsé (Togo)
Wahala
Wahala is located on the main road heading north and is a well-known stop for travelers.
Amou-Oblo — Notsé (Togo)
Amou-Oblo
Amou-Oblo is known for its modern urban planning and clean environment, setting it apart from many other towns in the region.
🗺️
Kougnohou
Kougnohou is situated in the western part of the Plateaux Region near the Ghana border.
🗺️
Elavagnon
Elavagnon is an important agricultural center in the Plateaux Region, surrounded by hills and fertile farmland.

History & landmarks

Saint-Esprit Cathedral — Notsé (Togo)
Saint-Esprit Cathedral
The imposing cathedral of Kpalimé is an architectural gem that shapes the cityscape at the foot of Mount Agou.

Nature

🗺️
Lake Nangbéto
An artificial lake on the Mono River, important for both energy production and fishing.

More places

Notsé Plain — Notsé (Togo)
Notsé Plain
A historically significant plain around the city of Notsé, considered the cradle of the Ewe people.
Walls of Notsé — Notsé (Togo)
Walls of Notsé
The remains of the ancient walls of Notsé mark the historical capital of the Ewe people before their great migration.
German Bridge of Amakpapé — Notsé (Togo)
German Bridge of Amakpapé
Built during the German colonial era, this bridge is a sturdy example of infrastructure development at the beginning of the 20th century.
🗺️
Slave Well of Chilla
This well near Wahala served as a vital water station on the route of slave caravans from the interior to the coast.
Mount Tado — Notsé (Togo)
Mount Tado
A historically and geographically significant mountain in eastern Togo, near the town of Tado.
Tado Hills — Notsé (Togo)
Tado Hills
A gentle hilly landscape in eastern Togo that represents an important geological barrier.
🗺️
Djogbévi Mountain
A mountain in southwestern Togo known for its dense mountain rainforests and butterfly populations.
Mount Agou — Notsé (Togo)
Mount Agou
At 986 meters, Mount Agou is the highest peak in Togo and offers a spectacular view over the region.