Guided tour with a theme: In the heart of Vodou – The plants
Delve into the fascinating world of Haitian and African Vodou with a unique guided tour dedicated to plants at the Château Vodou Museum in Strasbourg. Every third Sunday of the month, the museum offers a special session revolving around a central theme of Vodou culture. This particular event focuses on the role of plants in Vodou practices, rituals, and beliefs.
Plants, at the heart of Vodou practices and rituals
It is impossible to speak of the lwa, spirits, ceremonies or bo (fetishes) without understanding the importance of plants. In the Vodou religion, leaves, roots and barks are omnipresent: they are used to feed, house and honour spirits, to protect homes, to heal or to combat witchcraft. The small garden of Aguin, presented during this visit, illustrates the richness of the Vodou pharmacopoeia, inherited from Africa, Haiti and the Antilles.
A journey between history, culture and nature
Guided by vodou specialist Jean Yves Anézo, visitors discover how practitioners – manbo, houngan, makaya – use plants to connect with ancestors, saints, lwa, and the earth. Each plant, each leaf, each veve (a symbol drawn on the ground) tells a part of the history of the slaves, the families, the towns and countryside where vodou has taken root, from Port-au-Prince to the African bush.
Programme of the visit
- Discovery of the Aguin garden and iconic Voodoo plants
- Explanation of the ritual, medicinal, and symbolic uses of sacred leaves, roots, and trees
- Highlighting the connection between nature, spirits and daily life in Haitian and African culture
- Continuation of the visit through the museum galleries, encountering objects, archives, and stories related to plants and Vodou ceremonies.
Practical information
- Dates: Every 3rd Sunday of the month
- Price: €14 / Concession or subscriber price: €11
- Booking recommended (limited places)
Why participate?
This themed tour is a rare opportunity to explore Vodou from a different perspective, through the lens of nature, traditions, and ancestral knowledge passed down through generations. A special moment to understand the central role of plants in the religion, culture, and daily life of Haitians and Africans, and to weave links between heritage, history, and spirituality.
Book your place for a journey into the heart of Vodou's secrets and its sacred plants!
To enrich your experience at Château Vodou, why not also discover our other offers: Unusual venue hire for your events, original team building activities and Virtual team building to foster team unity, Murder party in Strasbourg For an unforgettable evening, night tours by torchlight, Murder mystery evening or another Guided tour on plants at the heart of Vodou to deepen your knowledge of Vodou traditions and rituals.