We couldn’t miss one of the most popular stops along the route between Antananarivo and Antsirabe: Ambatolampy, often referred to as Madagascar’s “aluminium town.” It is renowned for its traditional, family-run aluminium foundries that line the RN7. Dating back to around 1942, these workshops specialise in casting cookware—such as pots, pans, and spoons—as well as decorative items, all made from recycled aluminium scraps like beverage cans.
A visit (🎟️5,000 MGA) offers a fascinating, unfiltered glimpse into local craftsmanship and daily life. The work is fast-paced and highly labour-intensive, often carried out with minimal safety equipment. Artisans melt down materials such as cans and spare metal parts to produce molten aluminium, which is then poured into sand moulds to form a variety of household items. Today, the town is home to around 100 family-run workshops, where skills and techniques are passed down from one generation to the next.
