Yamoussoukro

Yamoussoukro is the administrative capital of Côte d'Ivoire and an emerging political and cultural center. Located 240 km north of Abidjan, it has an excellent location with a population of over 280,000. Yamoussoukro is the site of the largest Christian church in the world: The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. Its magnificent architecture shows the extraordinary cultural and touristic resources of the city. The House of Deputies which was built with Chinese assistance is a symbol of Yamoussoukro's beautiful scenery and Sino-Ivorian friendship.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the city was only a small village. It has now become a modern city of considerable scale, equipped with the building of the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire, a post and telecommunications building, an international hospital, a high-class hotel, a number of distinctive scenic spots, and an artificial lake. The National Higher Public Works School and the Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny, a public institution of higher education, research and production have been established, and make the city a centre of education and progress.