A great granite dome rises above trees at Idanre in Ondo State under a blue sky.
Heritage

Idanre Hill: Visitor and Heritage Guide

A town lived on top of an isolated rock hill for centuries, and its palace, its court and its belfry are still up there today.
  • Country Nigeria
  • Category Heritage
  • Reviewed 20 August 2026
  • Sources 2
  • Length 1 min read

Credit Sasu photography, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Oke Idanre is on Nigeria's World Heritage Tentative List, submitted in 2007 under criteria (ii), (iii) and (v). It is not inscribed, and what follows is Nigeria's own account: UNESCO prints a disclaimer on every Tentative List page assigning sole responsibility for the content to the State Party.

It is in Ondo State.

Visiting

  • The old town is reached on foot, up a long flight of steps.
  • It is a climb rather than a walk. Allow time and water.
  • The shrines are shrines. Ask before photographing anything at one.

Sources

  1. UNESCO Tentative List: Oke Idanre
  2. National Commission for Museums and Monuments

The description, altitude and the list of features are from Nigeria's Tentative List submission for Oke Idanre, entry 5169, submitted in 2007 and read on 20 August 2026. Nigeria's heritage authority is the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.