The city of Saint-Louis, the former colonial capital of Senegal, is the heart of one of the most beautiful regions in West Africa. Its one-storeyed houses with outside staircase, elaborate wooden balcony and veranda are reminiscent of New Orleans.

It was from here during the era of the "Aérospostale" company that Jean Mermoz set off, on 12 May 1930, at the controls of his seaplane "Comte de Vaulx", for his first flight across the South Atlantic.