

Poised atop Ambohimanga hill is the Rova, the fortress-palace. The walls of the compounds were constructed using cement made from sand, shells and egg whites – 16 million eggs were required to build the outer wall alone. Inside, there are two palaces: the traditional palace (1788) of the all-powerful Merina king Andrianampoinimerina, and the European-styled summer palace of Queen Ranavalona I (r 1828–1861), constructed by French engineer Jean Laborde in 1870 (he was thought to be Ranavalona’s lover).
Station: 189s475e · 27.5 km away · 1295m
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