Musée Andafivaratra

Antananarivo


Housed in a magnificent pink baroque palace, this museum is the former home of Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony, the power behind the throne of the three queens he married in succession (Rasoherina, Ranavalona II and Ranavalona III) between 1864 and 1895. The museum’s collection is a spare, dusty assortment of memorabilia from Merina (a tribal group) kings and queens, but the upper floors remain closed and labelling is poor.

The Merina crown jewels were stolen in 2013 and are yet to be recovered. Of the remaining exhibits, among the most interesting are the genealogy chart of Merina sovereigns at the entrance, the elaborate tea set given by Queen Victoria to Radama II and the scale model of the Rova. Overall, though, we're not sure it's worth the visit here, other than a brief stop outside to admire the facade.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Antananarivo attractions

1. Rova

0.18 MILES

Tana’s rova (fortified palace), known as Manjakamiadana (A Fine Place to Rule), is the imposing structure that crowns the city's highest hill. Gutted in a…

2. Musée de la Photo

0.21 MILES

Opened in early 2018, this fabulous photography museum is Antananarivo's best museum. There are four small rooms showing films (in French, English or…

3. Monument aux Morts

0.82 MILES

This WWI memorial, erected by the French, is a large golden angel on an island connected to the shore by a causeway. It is currently not advised to walk…

4. Presidential Palace

0.84 MILES

This beautiful 19th-century manor was an official French residence for many years. It became the Malagasy presidential palace in 1975 and remained so…

5. Lac Anosy

0.85 MILES

Antananarivo’s heart-shaped lake lies in the southern part of town. It's particularly lovely in October, when the jacaranda trees lining its shores are…

6. Musée d'Art et d'Archéologie

0.99 MILES

This small, dusty museum in Isoraka gives an overview of archaeological digs around the island, including displays of grave decorations from the south …

7. Analakely Market

1.04 MILES

Antananarivo's main market is a shadow of the former zoma (market), for which the capital was legendary, but you'd only realise this if you came back in…

8. Gare Soarano

1.43 MILES

Tana’s old train station doesn’t see much passenger traffic these days, so the lovely building has been converted into a small, upmarket shopping centre…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "madagascar/antananarivo/attractions/musee-andafivaratra/a/poi-sig/418377/1001072",
      "destination": "Antananarivo",
      "continent": "Africa",
      "country": "Madagascar",
      "city": "Antananarivo",
      "position": "superzone"
    }