Martinique Travel Guide

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Top Things to See and Do

• Be delighted by the winding streets and colorful markets of Fort-de-France, the island’s capital. In the center of the town, go to the park of La Savanne where a statue commemorates Napoleon’s Empress Josephine, a native of Martinique. Her home, La Pagerie, is one of the main tourist attractions. Near Trois-Îlets, across the bay from Fort-de-France is Joséphine’s birthplace, La Pagerie, which has a museum chock full of her mementos; nearby is the Parc des Floralies, a peaceful and pretty botanical park. Also of note in the vicinity is the Pottery Center.

• Pay a visit to the Musée Départemental, which has remains of the predominantly Arawak and Carib Indian prehistory of the island. There is an interesting Caribbean Arts Center.

• See the Cathedral of St-Louis, a late-17th-century cathedral with a Roman-style bell tower. Many governors of Martinique are buried inside.

• The 1,430m (4,700ft) volcanic mountain in the north, Montagne Pelée, last erupted in 1902 (in a unique explosion which literally ripped the summit off), destroying the city of St Pierre and its entire population of 30,000. The remains of St Pierre, once a beautiful and remarkable city known as the ‘pearl of the Caribbean’, are now a tourist attraction. The Musée Volcanologique contains exhibits, photographs and documents that tell the story of the disaster. Today, St Pierre is Martinique’s second city and, although run down, still shows some signs of its former glory: the old stone stairways and bridges still exist, and the ruins of the theater are a prominent feature. Some of the historic buildings are being rebuilt and restored, notably the old customs house by the waterfront. The long grey-sand beach is very popular with local people. It is possible to visit the wrecks of the ships which were in the harbor on the day Montagne Pelée erupted – all but one of them went down in the disaster. Special submarines with glass windows take tourists to view the wrecks and the colorful fish which swim around them. It is also possible to dive to see them. The best way to see St Pierre is on the Cyparis Express train which takes visitors on a one-hour journey around the town.

• Near Le Carbet, where Columbus landed on his fourth voyage in 1502, visit the restored plantation of Leyritz. The Center d’Art Paul Gauguin may be found in Le Carbet itself. It contains exhibits relating to the painter’s stay in the area and the work he did while there.

• In the south of the island is Pointe du Bout, Martinique’s major resort area. Ste Anne, Le Diamant and Les Anses d’Arlets have some of the island’s best bathing beaches. HMS Diamond Rock, 4km (2.5 miles) off Diamant, is a rock which was designated a man-of-war by the British during the Napoleonic wars and rates a 12-gun salute from passing British warships.

• Swimming, waterskiing, sailing, scuba-diving, snorkeling and spearfishing are available at many coastal resorts. Take part in the aqua-festival, a sailing event held each year around the Bay of Robert.

• Horse riding is a very enjoyable way to see Martinique’s lovely countryside. There is also horseracing at the Carère track at Lamentin. Hiking, mountain climbing and mountain biking are also catered for.

• Don’t leave the island without sampling the island rum. Distilleries abound throughout Martinique and all of them welcome visitors for a sampling of their product. The St James Distillery at Sainte-Marie in the north operates the Musée du Rhum. The charming Rhum Clement Domaine Acajou, in Le François on the east coast, recently added a fine contemporary museum. The Fonds Saint-Jacques, a historically important 17th-century sugar estate in the north, attracts visitors with its Musée du Père Labat. Finally, there is the Maison de la Canne, a modern museum devoted to sugar and rum just outside Trois-îlets.