Architectural masterpiece

The Sandcastle, ideally located on the bank of the river Bani, is the first sight to any visitor entering Djenné by ferry. The two-story building is one of the best examples of the world renowned Malian mud architecture. The exterior is constructed of banco or adobe (mud mixed with rice bran) and the interior is made of sand.

The Sandcastle was built by the Dutch writer/cineast Ton van der Lee. The house is constructed strictly by hand, following traditional building techniques. Van der Lee made the building process the topic of both a book (Het Zandkasteel) and a movie (Heavenly Mud).

Respect for the environment

With great views over the river from the garden and the roof terrace, the Sandcastle is a tranquil oasis where you can enjoy life without being disturbed by mass tourism, traffic noise or phones constantly ringing.

Being an so-called ecolodge, the Sandcastle watches the environment by using solar light, making waste comps and recycling used materials.

More information

If you're interested in more information on the Sandcastle and its construction, check the following websites (external links):

Homepage Ton van der Lee
The Sandcastle in 3D (choose option Google Earth)

More information on Ton van der Lee's book and film can be found on the page Books, films and music.