Excursion to Fianarantsoa

Fianarantsoa is a fascinating and beautiful city in Madagascar. It is considered one of the largest cities on the island. Today Fianarantsoa is a holiday paradise for those who love to swim in the crystal clear sea and sunbathe on the sun-drenched beaches, as well as spend their time not boring.

The founding of the city was associated with the Ceylon queen Ranavalona in 1830. During French rule, this settlement was considered the Catholic center of the country, and the queen wanted to establish a second capital here. And also to protect the southern part of the island, it was planned to establish a military outpost. The Queen needed an intermediate city between the capital Antananarivo and the south of the country. In translation, the name of the city sounds exactly like this: “A place where goodness is taught.” Today the number is 195,500 people. It is a popular tourist town with many local intellectuals. There are several higher institutions here.

The city is divided into three parts: upper, middle and lower. The historic center is the upper part of Hout-Ville, where most of the buildings date back to the 19th century. Here you will see a huge number of ancient churches (the most popular cathedral is the Vatican Fianarantsoa), walk along the narrow quiet streets and enjoy the romantic atmosphere. You can climb to the old chapel, from where an incredibly beautiful view opens up.

The middle part of the city of Noveuil-Ville is more modern, as it was built at the beginning of the 20th century. Here are mainly banks and offices, as well as the University. Founded in 1972, it also houses the country’s oldest theological seminary and monuments to outstanding citizens.

The lower area of ​​Bass-Ville is very lively and colorful. This is the most modern part of Fianarantsoa. These are mainly residential areas with commercial and sports centers, parks and other buildings. The Swiss-style train station and post office are especially impressive here. We also recommend visiting the gem market at the station square.

Tourists often wonder what the local residents of Fianarantsoa are called. These hardworking people call themselves Betsileu. They skillfully cultivate rice fields, grow tomatoes, coffee and tobacco. There are also many tea plantations. The textile and pharmaceutical industries are well developed. The grapes grow right on the slopes and, of course, the production of national Madagascar wines is very developed in this city. One of the attractions is the Winery, or where the excursion includes a tasting of 70 ° alcohol, or the Kharafa soft drink, which is made from palm raffia. You can also purchase these unique wines from the enterprise as a souvenir. The wineries are located at the very bottom of the city.

The Ranomafana National Park begins near the northern outskirts of Fianarintsua. This is a unique park and must-see. Only here are practically extinct lemurs and many endemic plants found. And to the south there is another, no less interesting Andringitra National Park, which is unique for its colorful gorges, green valleys and swamps.

The city is located high, at an altitude of 1200 m above sea level, so it can be cool here. When planning to visit Fianarantsoa, ​​do not forget to bring warm clothes, as the average annual temperature is + 19 ° С

Holidays in Fianarantsoa are a great opportunity not only for walking and visiting attractions and parks, but also for outdoor enthusiasts, where you can test yourself in rafting on mountain rivers and climbing to the mountain peaks. You will not find such natural beauty and variety of landscapes anywhere else. This city has long attracted travelers from all over the world!