Casa Museo di Rimbaud, Harari Region, Ethiopia

4Black Lion 5:00 PM Oct 23, 2021

Interesting Place
I went here with a group and found it to be a good visit. We had a tour guide as well. Nothing wowed me, but it was an educational experience. Not to mention, the view from the top was nice. I’d like to go back sometime by myself with a tour guide to get a fuller experience. The larger group dynamic didn’t work well for me.

4midway42 5:00 PM Apr 16, 2014

Atmospheric museum in memory of a restless soul.
I had never heard of Arthur Rimbaud before visiting this somewhat moody museum in Harar and the whole idea seemed a bit out of place until I actually went there. I visited twice during my time in town. Like most things in the walled city, the museum is equally "tough to find" and "just around the next corner" at the same time. It’s displayed prominently on maps and most locals will point you in the right direction if you just ask for “Rambo.” Located behind a small gate, it’s open every morning during the week at what seemed roughly 8:30-9:00AM. After a paying a small admission fee (20 Birr) you are given a brief oral introduction to the house/museum by the manager and then set free. The ground floor contains research material and reference books dealing with Mr. Rimbaud’s life and wasn’t of much use. The first floor contains the most interesting material including a room in the back dedicated exclusively to his life and times and arranged roughly in a chronological pattern. The main room on the first floor contains a number of older pictures of Harar around the turn of the Century and was quite intriguing, while there are many works of art in the circumferential hallways to the side. The second (top) floor is empty but there are memorable views across the town which I found out was quite rare in such a flat place. I was pleasantly surprised by my visit here as it was concise, informative, and introduced me to a unique personality who seemed almost Hemingway-esque in his agitated but brief life. In fact Mr. Rimbaud’s list of accomplishments aside from his most memorable (poetry) would be notable in any instance: enlisting in the Dutch Colonial Army and traveling to Java, working in Cyprus in a stone quarry, perfecting the coffee trade while in Harar, etc. A recommended stop that won’t take up too much of your time or money.