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Ouidah is a city on the Atlantic coast of Benin. Originally known as Ajuda, the Portuguese reached the town in 1580, after which it grew around the slave trade.
The Portuguese, English, French and Danish all constructed forts in the city to protect their interests in slaving. The Portuguese Fort of São João Batista, now housing a museum, dates from 1721 and remained with Portugal until 1960.
Other attractions in Ouidah include the Maison du Brésil art gallery, a voodoo python temple, an early twentieth century basilica and the Sacred Forest of Kpasse, dotted with bronze statues.
The Route des Esclaves, by which slaves were taken to the beach, has numerous statues and monuments, including the Door of No Return, a monumental arch.
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