The Best Travel Guide to Fort-de-France

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Martinique

Fort-de-France

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Caribbean Martinique Fort-de-France

Overview

Fort-de-France The guide was updated: 2023-10-31

With its unique mix of Creole culture and European cosmopolitanism, the French overseas territory of Martinique, and in particular its capital Fort-de-France, has just the right blend of tradition and sophistication. A fast-developing city boasting first-class shopping and dining as well as a bustling urban life. But the main draw to this Caribbean island remains its surrounding natural beauty made up of lush tropical rain forests, an active volcanic mountain, and picture-perfect beaches, which have captivated visitors for centuries.

Facts

Population:	74,219 (2023)
Currency:	Euro, €1 = 100 cents
Search Accommodation:	Hotels »
Emergency numbers:	Fire: 18 Police: 17 Ambulance: 15
Newspapers:	Caribbean News Now — thecaribbeannewsnow.com Journal France-Antilles Martinique — www.martinique.franceantilles.fr
Website:	tourisme-centre.fr
Opening hours:	Shops tend to open at about 9am and close between 4pm and 5pm, many of them closing for an hour or two at lunchtime. Restaurants usually open closer to noon, taking a break for a few hours in the afternoon, and then staying open until late, often 10pm or even 12pm.
Tourist information:	Office de Tourisme Centre Martinique 29 rue Victor Hugo, Fort-de-France +596 596 80 00 70 contact@tourisme-centre.fr www.tourismefdf.com Opening hours: Mon–Fri 8am–4pm, Sat 8am–1:30pm

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Section in Fort-de-France

The picturesque seaside city of Fort-de-France offers plenty in the way of sights and attractions, including beautiful historical buildings, an imposing fort, and ample walkability, but it is best used as a home base for exploring the natural surroundings of the island of Martinique. Laze at idyllic beaches from coast to coast, hike up the commanding Mount Pelée and marvel at the lush, tropical beauty of the island. The more historically-minded can check out the Musée de la Pagerie or contemplate the solemn Anse Cafard Slave Memorial, a sobering reminder of the country's and region's tumultuous past.

Bibliothèque Schoelcher

Bibliothèque Schoelcher

Named after Victor Schoelcher, a leader in the fight to free slaves in the Caribbean during the 19th century, this beautiful public library is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Fort-de-France. It was first built in Paris for the 1889 World Exposition, then taken apart and shipped to Martinique to be reassembled as it is seen today.

Fort Saint-Louis

Fort Saint-Louis

The imposing Fort Saint-Louis, which towers 200 feet over a steep cliff offers some of the best views of both city and sea. The original construction dates back to 1640, but little of that remains, and what can be seen today is largely composed of later additions. Reopened in 2014, tours are now available in several languages.

La Savane

La Savane

La Savane is a vast and meticulously landscaped park with lots of trees, benches, and fountains, the heart of public life in Fort-de-France with shopping, dining, and entertainment options all around. Locals gather at the many cafés at all hours of the day, and visitors use it as a springboard from which to explore the surrounding sights.

Jardin de Balata

Jardin de Balata

The Jardin de Balata, situated slightly inland from Fort-de-France, is a lush, 3-hectare expanse of green that contains a beguiling range of flora, comprising over 3,000 different species. The grounds are carefully landscaped, tailored, and looked after, and the view from the suspended rope bridges is enchanting.

Route de la Trace

Route de la Trace

The scenic stretch of highway N3 that runs from Fort-de-France all the way to Mount Pelée, better known as Route de la Trace, follows an old route carved out by the Jesuit missionaries of the 1600s, running through beautiful expanses of thick rainforest. Stunning hiking trails branch off from the main route should be thoroughly explored to get an idea of the wild natural beauty of Martinique.

Mount Pelée

Mount Pelée

The imposing Mount Pelée towers over the island of Martinique with a menacing gaze. The volcano is going through a quiet phase, but it is still active, and as recently as 1902 had a violent eruption that destroyed the city of Saint-Pierre. Visitors today can hike up to the summit and marvel at the views on a clear day.

Sainte-Anne

Sainte-Anne

Sainte-Anne, Martinique's southernmost village, is one of the island's prettiest towns. It is often frequented by visitors for its shops and restaurants, as well as its great crafts market, but the biggest draw to the area are the wonderful beaches, like the idyllic Les Salines, just a short distance away.

Le Carbet

Le Carbet

Located between, Fort-de-France and Saint-Pierre, the village of Le Carbet is a place of special historical importance, as it was the landing site for Cristopher Columbus' fourth and final voyage to the Caribbean in 1502. Today, this village houses some fantastic gardens, including Latouche's Creek Garden, which boasts over 200 species of tropical plants.

Diamond Rock

Diamond Rock

Lying some 3 kilometers off the southern coast of Martinique, Diamond Rock is an imposing 175-meter-high rocky island, once claimed by the British as a ship (the HMS Diamond Rock), before being reclaimed by the French. Today, it is known as one of the island's best dive spots.

Caravelle Peninsula

Caravelle Peninsula

Caravelle Peninsula is a narrow strip of land that shoots out into the Caribbean waters from the east coast of Martinique. It is protected as a nature reserve and thus wonderfully unspoiled. It is home to a large number of animal and plant species, making it a fascinating place for a hike.

Ajoupa-Bouillon

Ajoupa-Bouillon

Ajoupa-Bouillon, located at the foot of Mount Pelée, is an area renowned for its natural beauty, featuring lush tropical landscapes. There are hiking trails leading through the forest, along ravines, and past waterfalls. The Ajoupa Gardens also display an abundance of colorful flowers and plants.

Les Salines

Les Salines

With one kilometer of soft, warm sand, clear, tranquil water, and idyllic coconut palms lining the whole area, Les Salines is one of the most popular beaches in Martinique. Families tend to crowd it a bit on weekends, but during the week it tends to be less hectic.

Pointe Du Bout

Pointe Du Bout

Directly across the city of Fort-de-France, on the other side of the bay of the same name, lies Pointe Du Bout, Martinique's most popular resort area. The streets are lined with quaint boutiques, breezy cafés, and great restaurants, prompting many to hop on the regular ferries departing from the Fort-de-France Marina in search of entertainment, shopping, and fun in the sun.

Musée de la Pagerie

Musée de la Pagerie

The magnificently preserved Musée de la Pagerie is a former sugar estate and the birthplace of Marie Joseph Rose Tascher de la Pagerie, better known as Empress Josephine, Napoleon Bonaparte's first wife. A guide will take you through the estate to admire the numerous artifacts and share fascinating stories from Josephine's childhood.

Anse Cafard Slave Memorial

Anse Cafard Slave Memorial

The shores of Le Diamant are home to one of the Caribbean's most impressive and sobering memorials to the region's history of slavery. The 20 beautiful statues face out towards the water with their heads bowed down, in honor of the 20 victims of a slave ship sinking that took place in 1835.

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