Diego is the capital of northern Madagascar. It is 1093 kilometres from the country's capital, Antananarivo. Former French garrison, it carries in its streets with evocative names, traces of its military past.

 

Diego is the starting point of the colonisation of Madagascar. In 1885, France seized the city and the French navy moved into the port. Even today, stranded and rusty boats in the harbour remind us of this history. A little further on, at the bend of a street, you can see the name of Joffre, French marshal at the controls of the operations at the end of the 19th century. From this time dates the construction of the arsenal and those of flourishing residences. In Joffre Street, a statue and a plaque bearing the inscription "1859-1931 / Marshal of France / Timbuktu 1894 / Diego Suarez 1903 / The Marne 1914", pay homage to him. From this street always, the view is breathtaking on the large bay of Diego, the second largest bay in the world, after Rio.

 

Not far from the harbour, in this quaint old-fashioned city, there is an old music kiosk from the colonial era. Rue Colbert, another great French reference, is close to the city centre. Diego is a charming mix of faded colonial houses and time-worn buildings. A mixture that is difficult to remain unaffected by. At the end of the street, the former Hôtel de la Marine is today a hostel that still rears its imposing columns to the sky.

 

 

This article was featured in Prime Magazine March 2018