History of Toliara

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of Toliara (often referred to as Tulear) began long before the modern city appeared on maps. Initially, this coastline was home to the Vezo people—skilled fishermen and seafarers who established small settlements here. Toliara began to take shape as a fully-fledged urban centre in the late 19th century. The official milestone in the city's formation is considered to be 1895, when French architects and engineers designed an administrative centre and port here, having appreciated the strategic importance of the bay.

Key Development Factors

The transformation of small fishing villages into a major regional centre in southwestern Madagascar was driven by several important factors:

• Geographical Location: The city is situated on the shores of the Mozambique Channel and is protected by a massive coral reef. This created a natural and safe harbour for vessels.
• Trade Hub: Toliara became the main maritime gateway for exporting products from the rich but difficult-to-access inland areas of the south (particularly livestock, cotton, and grain crops).
• Climate Features: The dry and hot climate facilitated the development of specific types of agriculture in the surrounding areas, which required a centralised sales market.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

From the moment of its foundation, Toliara developed as a "melting pot" of cultures. The early city's economy was built on the interaction of two ways of life: maritime fishing, conducted by the Vezo, and cattle breeding, characteristic of the Masikoro and Mahafaly peoples inhabiting the inland territories. This cultural exchange, taking place in the markets and the port, laid the foundation for the unique atmosphere of the city, which earned its famous nickname due to the abundance of light and warmth — the "City of the Sun".

Colonial Period and Establishment

• 17th Century — St. Augustine's Bay, located near the future city, becomes a well-known anchorage for European trading ships and pirates.
• 1895 — The French administration selects the coastal zone for the construction of a new regional centre and port.
• 1897 — Official approval of the settlement's administrative status and the beginning of active urban development according to a regular plan.
• 1900s — Construction of the first stone buildings in the colonial style and development of infrastructure for exporting southern products.
• 1923 — Expansion of port facilities, allowing the city to become the key economic hub of the Atsimo-Andrefana region.

Modern History

• 26 June 1960 — Toliara, along with the entire country, celebrates the proclamation of Madagascar's independence from France.
• 1971 — Foundation of the regional university centre, which later grew into the University of Toliara, the oldest in the south of the country.
• 1970s — During a state campaign to return to national roots, the city officially changes its name from the French Tulear to the Malagasy Toliara.
• 1980 — Swiss botanist Hermann Petignat founds the famous Arboretum d'Antsokay in the suburbs, preserving the unique flora of the region.
• Early 21st Century — The city asserts its status as the tourism capital of the south, developing resort infrastructure and eco-tourism.

Development Milestones and Their Significance

The evolution of Toliara from a fishing village to the capital of southern Madagascar passed through several key stages that defined the modern appearance and status of the city:

• Construction of the Commercial Port — Transformed the coastal settlement into the region's main maritime gateway, enabling the export of cotton, sisal, grain, and livestock, which became the foundation of the city's economy.
• Colonial Planning (Early 20th Century) — Formed a recognisable urban look with wide avenues and Art Deco style buildings, giving the city a spacious and logical street structure.
• Creation of Agro-industrial Enterprises — The appearance of factories for soap production and cotton processing secured Toliara's status as the industrial centre of the Atsimo-Andrefana province.
• Opening of the University of Toliara (1971) — Transformed the city into an educational and scientific hub of Southern Madagascar, especially in the fields of oceanography and agriculture.
• Foundation of the Arboretum d'Antsokay (1980) — Became a turning point in the preservation of the unique flora of the spiny forests and attracted the attention of the international scientific community and eco-tourists.
• Modernisation of the RN7 Highway — Ensuring reliable land connections with the capital Antananarivo brought the city out of isolation and stimulated the influx of goods and travellers.
• Development of a Tourism Hub — In recent decades, the city has become a key distribution node for tourists heading to the resorts of Ifaty and Anakao, which reoriented local business towards the service sector.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

The architecture of Toliara does not boast ancient ruins or medieval castles, as the city is a relatively young creation. Its appearance is a vivid illustration of French urban planning of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, adapted for the hot tropical climate. The city is often called the "White City" due to the abundance of light-coloured buildings that reflect the bright southern sun.

Colonial Era (Late 19th — Mid 20th Century)

This period was decisive for the city's structure. French engineers laid out wide avenues and straight streets, which favourably distinguishes Toliara from many other Malagasy cities with chaotic development. The main goal of such planning was to ensure ventilation and protection from overheating.

• Style: Colonial Style. Characterised by one or two-storey buildings with thick walls, high ceilings, and mandatory verandas or arcades that create shade. Windows are often protected by wooden shutters.
• Style: Art Deco. In the 1930s, when the city was actively expanding, Art Deco elements appeared in administrative buildings: geometric shapes, strict lines, and decorative elements on the facades of public buildings.

Independence Period and Modernity

After 1960, the city's architecture became more utilitarian. During this period, the focus shifted to functionality and the use of concrete.

• Style: Tropical Modernism. Simple concrete structures, often used for government institutions, schools, and university buildings.
• Traditional Architecture: On the outskirts of the city and in fishing quarters, the traditional style of the Vezo people prevails—light huts made of plant materials (reeds, wood), ideally suited to the local climate but requiring frequent renewal.

Landmark Buildings and Districts

The appearance of Toliara is formed not so much by individual monuments as by the general atmosphere of its central streets and the waterfront.

• St. Vincent de Paul Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Vincent-de-Paul): The main architectural dominant feature of the centre. This snow-white building with a massive tower is executed in a restrained style, combining elements of colonial architecture and Neo-Romanesque motifs.
• Colonial Mansions of the Centre: Along the main avenues, old administrative and commercial buildings with covered galleries have been preserved, now housing shops and offices.
• University of Toliara: A complex of buildings in the modernist style of the 1970s, located on a hill in the Manampisoa district, offering a view of the city.
• Bazary Be (Central Market): The central market, representing the heart of city life. Although the structure itself is utilitarian, it is a centre of urban activity and a place where all city routes intersect.

Political and Public Figures

• Monja Jaona
  Role: Politician, nationalist, leader of the MONIMA party.
  A key figure in the political history of southern Madagascar. In 1971, he led a peasant uprising in the Tulear province against the neo-colonial policies of the central government. Jaona is considered a symbol of the struggle for the rights of the southern regions' inhabitants ("cotiers") and a defender of the poorest segments of the population. Streets and memorial sites in the region are named in his honour.
• Camille Albert Vital
  Role: Brigadier General, statesman.
  A native of Toliara who had a brilliant military and political career. He served as Prime Minister of Madagascar during the Transitional Administration (2009–2011). His activities contributed to strengthening the positions of people from the Atsimo-Andrefana region in the national political arena.

Cultural and Scientific Figures

• Hermann Petignat
  Role: Amateur botanist, ecologist.
  Swiss by origin, he dedicated his life to studying the flora of southwestern Madagascar. In 1980, he founded the famous "Arboretum d'Antsokay" near Toliara. His work allowed for the preservation of hundreds of unique plant species of the spiny forests, many of which were on the verge of extinction, and attracted scientists from all over the world to the region.
• Régis Gizavo
  Role: Musician, virtuoso accordionist.
  Born in Toliara, he became one of the most famous Malagasy musicians abroad. Gizavo became famous for adapting traditional southern rhythms (Tsapiky and Renigo) for the accordion. A laureate of the RFI Discoveries award, he collaborated with world-class stars (Cesária Évora, Lenine), introducing the world to the musical heritage of his hometown.
• Théo Rakotovao
  Role: Singer, composer, leader of the Mikea group.
  A native of the region whose work is inextricably linked with the culture of the mysterious Mikea forest people, living north of Toliara. Through his music, he draws attention to the problems of deforestation and the preservation of the unique ecosystem of the southwest. He is an important cultural ambassador for the region.