Maison Royale

The royal house where the 1884 protectorate treaty with Germany was signed

The Maison Royale is the compound of the Togoville chiefs, who still wield ceremonial authority over the town and its outlying villages. The building itself is a modest single-storey house with a tin roof and a verandah, but its position in the country's history is outsized: this is where the German treaty of 1884 was signed, the foundation document of the Togolese protectorate and the source of the country's name.

A visit usually involves a short tour from a family member or appointed guide, an explanation of the treaty and the lineage of the chiefs, and the opportunity to meet the current king. A small donation is expected. Photographs are usually fine inside, but ask first.

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A story
On 5 July 1884, the German explorer Gustav Nachtigal signed a protectorate treaty here with Mlapa III, the local chief, that gave Germany its first foothold in West Africa and a name — Togo — for what became one of its colonies. The current king, a direct descendant, sometimes receives visitors in the courtyard. A photograph in the reception room shows the signing of the original treaty under a tree in the same compound.

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