Rovan'i Manjakamiadana or Queen's Palace
Rovan’i Manjakamiadana, or Queen's Palace, is a historical monument that was long the residence of the sovereignty of the great island in the 19th century. It has become one of the main artistic attractions in the city of Antananarivo, the capital, and a source of pride for the entire island.
How to Get There?
The Palace is located in the city center, at the top of the hill. A ten-minute drive from the city center, Rova de Manjakamiadana is accessible via Faravohitra paved road and Ambatonakanga asphalt road. It can also be reached by the stone steps of Mahamasina.
Bluerose25 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:
Rova_Manjakamiadana_2.jpg), « Rova Manjakamiadana 2 », https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode
History of Manjakamiadana Palace
Manjakamiadana Palace was built in 1864 by the French architect Jean Laborde. It was Queen Ranavalona I who ordered its construction. The palace was originally made of wood and followed the Trano Vola style. In 1867, Queen Ranavalona II asked Jean Laborde to redesign the palace's architecture. The British architect James Cameron modernized it by adding a stone facade and four towers. This same architect also added other pavilions to the palace complex, including a Protestant temple built for Queen Rasoherina, who had converted to Christianity.
The palace was the residence of the royal descendants. Kings Andriamasinavalona (1675-1710) and Andrianampoinimerina (1787-1810) were the first occupants when the palace was just a simple wooden house. It later became the main residence for the sovereigns of Madagascar.
On November 6, 1995, the palace was set on fire. The origin of the fire has not been identified to this day.
Dalbergiaada (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Palais_Tranovola.jpg), « Palais Tranovola », https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode
unknown (see below) (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Manampisoa_Rova_of_Antananarivo_Madagascar.jpg), „Manampisoa Rova of Antananarivo Madagascar“, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-old
inconnu (voir ci-dessous) (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Besakana_traditional_Merina_andriana_house_Rova_Antananarivo_Madagascar.jpg), „Besakana traditional Merina andriana house Rova Antananarivo Madagascar“, marqué comme domaine public, plus de détails sur Wikimedia Commons : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-old
MPMF24 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tombeaux_des_rois_MPMF24.jpg), « Tombeaux des rois MPMF24 », https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
inconnu (voir ci-dessous) (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seven_aligned_tombs_kings_imerina_rova_antananarivo_madagascar.JPG), « Seven aligned tombs kings imerina rova antananarivo madagascar », marqué comme domaine public, plus de détails sur Wikimedia Commons : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-old
Lemurbaby (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reconstructed_Mahitsielafanjaka_palace_at_Rova_of_Antananarivo_Madagascar.JPG), « Palais Mahitsielafanjaka reconstruit à Rova d’Antananarivo Madagascar », https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode
Le Tranovola
Manampisoa
Besakana
Mahitsielafanjaka
Tranofitomiandalana
Tombeaux des rois
The Palace or the Rova Manjakamiadana
The palace is situated on the highest hill of Imerina, offering a panoramic and unobstructed view of the entire city of Antananarivo and its surroundings.
The Queen's Palace includes a necropolis, five palaces, and nine tombs.
Image header : Vorondolo7 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rova_Manjakamiadana_Madagascar_de_loin.jpg), « Rova Manjakamiadana Madagascar de loin », https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode
Maky (Alex Dunkel) (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Palais_d’Andafiavaratra_01.jpg), « Palais d’Andafiavaratra 01 », https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 /code légal
Z Thomas (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tor_des_rova_antananarivo_2019-10-02_-3.jpg), « Tor des rova antananarivo 2019-10-02 -3 », https://creativecommons.org/ licences/by-sa/4.0/legalcode
Vorondolo7 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Route_d’entrée_Rova_Manjakamiadana_Madagascar.jpg), „Route d’entrée Rova Manjakamiadana Madagascar“, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode
Ambavahadimitafo
Le palais d’Andafiavaratra
Les belvédères
The upper town of the capital
The Queen's Palace is not only one of the must-see landmarks in the upper town. It is a magnificent place where most of the buildings still reflect Malagasy culture, with its beautiful old houses, churches, temples, and schools.