Antsirabe is the third largest city in Madagascar and has a population of approximately 183,000. Due to its high altitude (about 1 500 m) temperatures are rather cool and very cool in winter! The template climate was probably the reason why Norwegian missioners chose this place to settle down in 1872. Its name means “where there is salt” honouring the large number of hot springs the town has, a fact that has given the city the nickname of “Malagasy Vichy”. The thermal baths had been long appreciated for their curative effects by the local population when French colonists decided to locate a thermal bath here in the 19th century.
Hotels, gardens, a train station and a post office followed providing the city a new “belle époque” look that is still well preserved in the architecture. Besides the common hot springs, there is also a sparkling mineral water which the famous “three horses beer is made of. In the distance, the white cotton flowers remind us which industry has made the region famous. Antsirabe is also the capital of rickshaws, which are still widely used by the entire population.
The best way to get confident with the city is walking its streets, an activity that can be done here without any fear, since the city is quite safe. The compact city centre with its nice mixed architecture of different styles invite visitors for a walk. In the European district French cottage-style houses are built next to Scandinavian villas with English style gardens. The tree-lined avenues always give some freshness whenever the sun is too bright. And whenever your feet don’t suffice, nothing like hiring a rickshaw.
Antananarivo(Google Map)
Antsirabe is the third largest city in Madagascar and has a population of approximately 183,000. Due to its high altitude (about 1 500 m) temperatures are rather cool and very cool in winter! The template climate was probably the reason why Norwegian missioners chose this place to settle down in 1872.
Departure in the morning for a 3 hours trip along the National Road n° 7 through beautiful lanscapes of rice fields and the typical villages of the Highlands; at the arrival settle in hotel Couleur Café; lunch in restaurant; in the afternoon visit of the caracteristic town and their handicraft’ shops; in the evening dinner and overnight in hotel.
After breakfast in hote take a tour to the « tsena », the market, to meet local peoples coming from the surrondings and discover all products of the region; at the end back to Antananarivo; stop in Ambatolampy for lunch in restaurant and to visit mainly known for its forging and foundry industry and the craftsmen building aluminium pots.
