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This city used to be the capitol of the ancient Dahomey kingdom and had a huge royal compound with a court of 10000 people + the 800 woman of the kings harem.
Unfourtunatly most of this was burned down by the 10th king so that it wouldn't fall into french hands as they conquered the country in the late 19th century. There were 2 palaces that survived and these where made into a museum by the french. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains many interesting objects from the former kings. Royal thrones, tapestries, human skulls used as music instruments, human skulls used as fly swatters, human skulls upon which the thrones were built... It was an interesting tour, but it showed how brutal the culture there was until rather recently. For example, when the king was constructing a building, he drained the blood from 40 slaves and mixed this into the mud cement. This would protect the building. A major part of his army were "Amazon warriors", female soldiers who usually cut of one breast to make better use of their bow and arrows. Before going into battle, each one would promise the king how many heads of the enemy she would bring back. If she promised 3 and returned with 2, then the 3rd head would be her own. I guess they were fighting for their lives in more way than one! When the king died, a new building was put up (with more "blood cement" of course) and in the foundation, 40 of his wives would be buried alive. According to the guide, the choosen wives were honored to follow the king into the afterworld and glad to be buried alive. I find it a little hard to belive that, even though it might have been an honor, nobody would appreciate having sand thrown onto them till they suffocate and/or are crushed by the weight... I think there were perhaps more than a few muffled screams and crying going on.
The tapestries with pictures representing the different monarchs times of rule mostly illustrated decapitations, rape, plunder etc. All the nice things to cherish and remember from a sweet and peaceful society!

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I guess you need to be fluent (or at least semi) to make your way around there?