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From its days of a French colony to the devastation of Mt-Pelée's eruption to today's tourism boom, Martinique has enjoyed a rich history that has left it with a treasure trove of sights and experiences. Left over from the colonial days are historic sights like Fort St-Louis, Habitation Clement, and Château Dubuc. |
Mt-Pelée's eruption at the onset of the 20th century leveled then-capital city St-Pierre. The city has since recovered much of its fin-de-siècle charm, and visitors can enjoy world-class snorkeling here, as well as the famous black sand Anse Céron beach and a bevy of cozy cafés and eateries. Those wanting to explore the island's interior will discover distilleries where superb island rum is made, orchard after orchard of tropical fruit, and plush plantations where the national symbol, the red anthurium, is grown.
Bibliothèque Schoelcher
Fort-de-France, Martinique
Victor Schoelcher, the man who abolished slavery on Martinique in the 1840s, lends his name to this Hénri Pick-designed building, which was constructed entirely in Paris for the 1889 World Exposition. After the Exposition, the building was dismantled and shipped here, on its corner perch overlooking La Savane.
Caravelle Peninsula
Qua Tartane, La Trinite, Martinique
Home to Caravelle Beach, the Caravelle Nature Reserve, and Château Dubuc, Caravelle Peninsula offers some of the island's most pristine vistas, as hiking trails take explorers past the ruins of Chateau Dubuc and down to unspoiled white and gray sand beaches.
Fort St-Louis
Fort-de-France, Martinique
Fort St-Louis, one of the first Western fortifications on the island, dates from the 17th century, when it was constructed to protect the French Empire's interests in Fort-De-France. Today, the fort is still in use, serving as the homeport for the Caribbean branch of the French navy.
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Habitation MacIntosh |
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La Savane
Fort-de-France, Martinique
The heart and soul of Fort-de-France is this quiet park, which takes up more than 12 acres in the center of town. Noteworthy for its Parisian-style fountains and garden areas, La Savane is a romantic place to spend an afternoon. The park is also home to a statue of Empress Josephine, the wife of Napoleon I who was born in nearby Trois-Ilets.
Route de la Trace & Balata Botanical Garden
The unforgettable Route de la Trace forges its way through island's dense rain forest, leading travelers over the mountains northeast of Fort-de-France. Blazed by 17th century Jesuit missionaries, the route winds through verdant valleys, past clusters of bamboo and wild tropical flowers, and under a virtual canopy of tree ferns. Martinique's famous Balata Church, an impressive Roman-Byzantine structure modeled after Paris's Sacré-Coeur Basilica, and the Balata Botanical Gardens also lie along the route.
Mount Pelée & St-Pierre, Martinique
When Mount Pelée erupted in 1902, it devastated the quaint town of St-Pierre, killing nearly 30,000 people and sinking the handful of ships that had dropped anchor in the harbor. Ever resilient, the town's residents worked hard to rebuild the old capital city and, today, visitors to St-Pierre will quickly find why this town has long been known as the "Paris of the Caribbean”.
The Diamond rock
An ancient lava dome formed 960,000 years ago, it surges from the waters to 176m above the level of the sea. The sea birds find refuge on its abrupt flanks dug with caverns. Its submerged part is covered with coral and faults inhabited by fish that have earned the rocher du Diamant, or Diamond Rock, the reputation as the most beautiful site for diving.
