St. Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral in Abidjan: ⛪ Key Facts Role: Seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Abidjan. Capacity: Holds 5,000 worshippers (one of Africa’s largest). Architect: Designed by Italian Aldo Spirito (commissioned 1980). History: Blessed by Pope John Paul II (1980), consecrated (1985). Sheltered 1,800 refugees during the 2010–2011 crisis. 🏛️ Architectural Highlights Symbolism: 70m bell tower resembles Christ kneeling with outstretched arms. Triangular base = Holy Trinity; 7 cables = spiritual ascent. Design: Fusion of Christian motifs + African artistry (terracotta panels, stained glass with local wildlife/village scenes). Materials: Concrete, steel, travertine limestone, windresistant stained glass. 🎨 Inside & Experience Art: Mosaics depict biblical scenes with African villagers; vibrant stained glass windows. Tower Climb: 230 steps to panoramic city/lagoon views (free entry; wear sturdy shoes). Location: Blvd Angoulvant, Plateau (accessible by bus). ⭐ Cultural Significance A modern icon of postindependence Côte d'Ivoire. Damaged in 2010–2011 conflict; underwent major renovations. In essence: A bold fusion of faith, African culture, and avantgarde architecture, symbolizing Abidjan’s spirit. ✝️🌍

St. Paul's Cathedral is a beautiful church with several stained glass windows. These windows show various historical religious scenes of Jesus and disciples and scenes of local history such as the missionaries arriving to the area. The cathedrals also has a great selection of mosaic tile scenes depicting various religious scenes with small tiles and excellent quality and composition. The exterior structure is a duplication of Jesus pulling the cross in artistic way. The pews are base of a local dark wood. The church has a unique altar with pews on both sides of the altar. The small chapel across the plaza is the location of a powerful ministry today with singing and praise. The restrooms are located near the chapel and are narrow and clean. Excellent blend of traditional religious symbols and contemporary up dates

This place was inaugurated in the last 80s and by Pope St. John Paul II. Still the biggest Cathedral of the Country since then. The Cathedral has a great Sunday Office and among the most visited place in Abidjan.

I remembered my first visit from over 20 years ago, it was a marvelous modern architecture with beautiful stained glass windows and wide alleys and still is in 2024. You can catch the early mass @ 8 am. Earlier ones also.

The place is so beautiful. But you never know when it is open until you’re there

When you visit a cathedral in Africa, you get beautiful African stained glass windows. They were magnificent and to see the wildlife and local people in these windows was something I didn’t think I needed to see. The ground were also nice to walk around but inside was spectacular.

Beautiful and peaceful. This stunning cathedral is a slice of peace in the middle of a bustling city. It's located in Plateau, the city's economic centre. Upon driving in, you can see a beautiful garden and two striking statues: one of Jesus and one of Pope John Paul II. The surprise comes when you walk through the beautiful stained glass doors. Each wall is covered in splendid stained glass windows depicting scenes from the bible. One window is designed to represent the country. It shows elephants, nature, and local life. I enjoyed visiting it and discovering this artistic and spiritual gem in the city centre. I definitely recommend this as a must do if you're in Abidjan and have some free time. It's also a great place to visit along with the museum (which is close by) P.s. be sure to go when there isn't a mass. Also, Sundays are best to visit Plateau as it'll be empty.

Some say it resembles an elephant, others a wave. I don't know what it resembles, but I do know it's a building that takes you by surprise. From afar you only notice the huge concrete cross, but it is only when you get closer that you can see the rest of the building, with it's organic lines, wooden doors, and slanted roof. It is very interesting. You could see from the outside that the stained glass was very unusual, with African motifs, but when you get inside, it's midblowing! The colours and the bible scenes in an African context (so different from what one usually sees in Europe), are beautiful! I liked it so very much that I visited a second time and stayed for mass (Thursday, around 1:30 pm).