如果你正站在喀麦隆第一大城市杜阿拉闷热的街头,想找寻这段历史的实体碎片,博南若区的贝尔王宫绝对是绕不开的一站。这座被当地人称为塔式宫殿的建筑,虽然个头不算宏伟,却像一颗钉子一样扎在几代杜阿拉人的记忆里。它不仅仅是一座房子,更像是一本被凝固在热带季风里的账本,记录着土地、权力和尊严的置换。
走到杜阿拉法院附近,你一眼就能认出贝尔王宫。在周围千篇一律的方块式现代办公楼里,它那层层叠叠、向上收窄的尖屋顶显得格格不入,甚至透着点东南亚的异域感。
这种奇特的建筑风格让它得了个外号叫塔式宫殿(La Pagode)。这个名字最早出现在法国作家路易-费迪南·塞利纳的小说里,他曾在1916年左右到访杜阿拉。虽然名字听着像东方的宝塔,但它实际上是德国殖民审美与当地权力需求混搭的产物。在那个时期,这种两层结构的砖木建筑在西非沿海城市算得上顶级豪宅。
王宫坐落在博南若区(Bonanjo),这里如今是杜阿拉的行政心脏,海拔大约也就10米出头。1905年落成的时候,它是贝尔家族地位的象征。老国王曼加·恩杜姆贝·贝尔为了抵消贸易垄断衰落带来的损失,在这片土地上投入了大量资源。那时候,贝尔家族的财富不仅超过了同时期的其他酋长,甚至让很多殖民官员都感到眼红。
推开王宫历史的大门,你会发现这里的主人更像是悲剧英雄。这座建筑的使用寿命其实很短,老国王建好后只住了三年就去世了,真正让它出名的是他的儿子鲁道夫·杜阿拉·曼加·贝尔。
鲁道夫接手王宫时,德国殖民者正计划强行搬迁杜阿拉当地人,把博南若变成纯粹的欧裔居住区。鲁道夫没有屈服,他利用在德国留学学到的法律知识与当局周旋。结果大家可能已经猜到了,抗争换来的是铁腕镇压。1914年8月8日,就在第一次世界大战爆发后不久,鲁道夫在王宫附近的广场被处决。如今,他被视为喀麦隆的民族英雄,而这座宫殿也从此多了一层悲壮的色彩。
1920年以后,这座房子换过很多租客,甚至一度作为政府用房。直到现在,它的产权依然属于贝尔王室家族。虽然现在它的一部分空间被改造成了餐厅和艺术中心(Espace Doual'Art),但如果你在门口稍微停留,还是能感受到那种大隐隐于市的皇室威严。这里的每一块砖都见证过德国人的傲慢、法国人的接手以及喀麦隆最终的独立。
去贝尔王宫不需要特意买门票,因为它目前不作为一个全开放的博物馆运营。大多数游客是在博南若步行游览时,将其作为一个重要的历史地标。由于地处市中心,交通其实挺方便的,但杜阿拉的交通状况比较混乱,这点得有心理准备。
最简单的办法是打个黄色的出租车,告诉司机去博南若的老法院(Palais de Justice)。下车后往独立大道方向走大约500米,宫殿就在你的右侧。如果你想拍出那种沧桑感,建议早上八九点左右去,那时候热带的光影斜打在尖顶上,能拍出屋檐的质感,而且那时候人相对少,不会总有摩托车挡你的镜头。
看完王宫先别急着走,博南若这一圈藏着不少宝贝。步行十分钟就能到圣彼得和圣保罗大教堂,那是典型的法国殖民建筑。再远一点还有杜阿拉海事博物馆。这一带的路面相对平整,是杜阿拉为数不多适合步行的区域。钱的问题也得算清楚,市内短途打车大约需要500到1000西非法郎,记得上车前先跟司机砍好价。
目前王宫室内大部分区域不对公众全面开放,主要作为贝尔家族的私人领地。不过建筑内设有餐厅和定期举办展览的艺术空间,你可以通过在餐厅用餐或参观艺术展的机会进入建筑内部,一睹部分历史细节。
单纯在外部参观建筑外观、拍摄照片是不需要门票的,也没有预约限制。如果你想参加内部的文化活动或用餐,建议提前查看相关的营业时间,通常在非节假日期间,早九点到晚六点是周边区域最热闹的时候。
博南若区是杜阿拉的安全系数最高的行政区之一,白天可以放心步行。不过在热门拍照点,还是要注意看管好自己的相机和手机,尽量不要在天黑后独自在这一带的僻静小巷走动,毕竟城市的治安环境比较复杂。
Thomas Meyer Looks like it could have been a beautiful place in the past. Now in desperate need of some TLC. It doesn’t look like the restaurant is still open, and even if it were, I’m not sure I would go there based on the state of the building.
Louise Boumso The pagoda is the former royal residence of the Bell dynasty. Built during the German occupation, it is located in the historic center of the city of DOUALA.
Dreamer They make some repair around.
marius tchuisseu One of the architectural jewels of Cameroon, extraordinary in both form (architecture) and substance (history). It is one of the buildings which bear witness to the colonial period of Cameroon, and still shows the traces of resistance of the national hero Douala Manga Bell. It's an extraordinary palace
Charlie Mondembom The Palace of the Bell Kings, also called the PAGODA (Name given to it by the French writer Louis-Ferdinand Céline, who stayed in Cameroon in 1916-1917) is located in the heart of the Bonanjo administrative district, on the Joss plateau . It was the residence which housed the dynasty of the Bell kings. Built in 1905 for King Auguste Manga Ndumbe, 11th ruler of the Bell dynasty (1897-1908), his son Rudolf Dualla Manga, born in 1872, succeeded him in 1908 and lived in this building until his arrest in July 1914. Period during which Cameroon was under German protectorate. Today this sumptuous building which is still the pride of the city of Douala, due to its privileged geographical location, houses commerce and a place of relaxation. We can cite some of them, among others: - A cabaret snack bar called “Le Palais” - The contemporary art gallery “Doual’art” - A restaurant - Fast food - A dental office If the presence of the contemporary art gallery was appreciated by purists, it is not the same for the snack bar which, according to some locals, violates the sacred character and history of this monument.