The Honmè Museum (King Toffa's Palace)

Located in the historic Aklon quarter of Porto-Novo, the Honmè Museum (meaning 'inside the gate' in Gun) occupies the former royal palace of the Hogbonu kingdom. Here ruled King Toffa I (1874–1908), who navigated regional diplomacy and signed treaties establishing Porto-Novo's historical autonomy. The palace follows traditional royal vernacular architecture, centered around interlinked open courtyards (honga) bordered by veranda galleries. Each courtyard served a dedicated ritual or civic function: receiving delegations, holding council assemblies, queenly residences, and honoring ancestral shrines. As a national museum, Honmè displays royal thrones, ancient ceremonial musical instruments, rare archival photographs, and court regalia, offering fascinating insight into the governance and ceremonies of 19th-century coastal royalty.