History Series
Historical site: Hotel Faucon in Huye district was the scene of a major confrontation between Rwanda’s King Rudahigwa and colonial racism
THE KING’S WAR:
The story of Hotel Faucon and how a
Rwandan King’s fury destroyed Racism
By Manu Gome
I
t was the very first hotel in Rwanda.
It was also the scene of one of
the most transformative events
in Rwanda and Burundi’s history and
a major spur for the then fledgling
independence movement.
Located right in the centre of
Rwanda’s Huye district, Hotel Faucon’s
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www.theeye.co.rw
interesting history makes it a must-vist
for anyone interested in Rwanda’s story.
History of a Whites-only Hotel
At the very spot where the hotel stands
was a building in which the Belgian
royal couple stayed during the colonial
era. After it was destroyed by fire, a
hotel was rebuilt in its place by the
building’s owner, Mr. Faucon, in 1943.