The name of the island is derived from Dutch and means “safe harbour”. Gorée is about one kilometre long and 300 metres wide and lies in a bay off the Senegalese capital Dakar.

Colourful alleys with beige, red and yellow houses line the way and duck under palm trees and baobabs in the blazing sun. There are neither cars nor bicycles on the island.

The island became famous as a symbol for the abduction of slaves across the Atlantic. With the “Maison des Esclaves” (Slave House), it has become a place of remembrance for the slave trade and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978.