World Travel GuidesThe World Heritage Sites Homepage Ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso


  Compare Hotel Room Rates from different Booking Sites   Follow Me on Pinterest 









Ruins of Loropéni are ancient pre-colonial stone ruins in Burkina Faso. It is located in Lobi, south of Gaoua, to the southern part of the country. Not much is known about these ruins. It is believed to be the palace walls of the Kaan Iya, the king or ruler of the Kaan people.


This is Pic de Sindou in Burkina Faso.  It is not the ruins of Loropeni
This is Pic de Sindou in Burkina Faso. It is not the ruins of Loropeni
Author: Wegmann (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)

There are ten such ruins which have been preserved. Its located on the trans-Sahara trade route points to the possibility that the ruins were that of fortresses guarding the mining of gold in the area. Scientists believe that the ruins are at least one thousand years old. The settlements have long been deserved after the extraction of the mineral reached its peak in the 14th to 17th century.

In 2009, the ruins of Loropéni became the first site in Burkina Faso to be inscribed as a World Heritage Site. This took place during the 33th session of the World Heritage Committee which met in Seville, Spain on 22-30 June, 2009. So far it is the only World Heritage Site in that country.


The imposing ruins of Loropéni were recognised as World Heritage Site on the basis of it being the best preserved example of a fortified settlement in West Africa, as a result of the history of gold mining in that area over a course of seven centuries. The ruins of Loropéni are said to be quite different from those found in other parts of West Africa, such as the walled towns of Nigeria.

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Location: N 10 15 0 W 3 34 60
Inscription Year: 2009
Type of Site: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: III

Location Map


View Ruins of Loropeni in a larger map

Visiting Ruins of Loropéni

Your base for visiting this World Heritage Site is the town of Gaoua. From there, you can make the arrangement, either on your own or through a travel agency, to go to Ruins of Loropéni.

Return to Burkina Faso's World Heritage Sites
Return to Burkina Faso Travel & Hotel Guide
Return to World Heritage Sites






  • Tips to become a smart traveler: Useful tips to remember, to get the best out of your travels.
  • Preparing for a Trip: Systematic approach to help you prepare for your trip.
  • How to plan your travel itinerary: Step-by-step build to creating the itinerary for your trip.
  • How to compare hotel room rates: Learn to use a booking search engine to compare rates across all major booking sites.
  • How to pack your luggage: Useful steps to take when packing your luggage.
  • Packing List (PDF): Print out this free packing list to make sure you don't forget anything for your trip.
  • Voltage, Frequency, Plugs & Sockets of the World: Learn about the mains electricity supply in the world.
  • Travelers' List of Plugs and Sockets (PDF): Easy-to-use list of electricity and plugs for all countries.
  • Making International Direct Dail Calls: Learn to make IDD calls from anywhere in the world.
  • IDD Call Prefixes & Country Codes (PDF): Listing of Call Prefixes and Country Codes on one page for you to bring on your trip.
  • Safety Tips When Traveling Alone: Useful advice for when you travel on your own.
  • Guide to Health Matters related to Travel: Comprehensive coverage of different issues related to your health when traveling.
  • Getting Travel Insurance for your trip: Benefits of travel insurance, and advise on when you should signing up for one.
  • Improve your travel photography: Tips to improve your photography skills, especially when traveling.
  • Guide to Traveling Around the World: Useful tips for encircling the globe.


  • Find a hotel







    Follow Me on Pinterest

    Point - Click - Discover!

    Thanks for visiting this webpage. To continue exploring, choose another destination!


    My World Travel Guides - celebrating a beautiful world beautifully.

    Earning a living as a Happy Jobless Guy

    I am a Happy Jobless Guy! I am one of the few people who is fortunate enough to earn an income from my websites that I don't to go out to work. My sites get thousands of visitors every day. It has been a long process, but it is something everybody can achieve, and that means YOU. The following are some articles which you might want to read if you want to do what I do:
    1. Money Making Manual
    2. Create Your Own Money-Printing Machine
    3. Guide for earning a living without holding a job
    4. Generate a Sitemap for your website
    5. Complete Step-by-Step e-Business Building System