Things to see and do Cayenne & Area

It is the spiritual heart of Catholic Cayenne. In 1823, the Prefect Apostolic and the Administrator of French Guiana decided to build a new church to replace the dilapidated and cramped Saint-Nicolas. In 1933, Guyana's largest church became a cathedral. It was once surrounded by magnificent palm trees, which must have given it a certain allure. Restored in the 1990s, it has since been declared a historic monument.

A few brochures and a warm welcome.

The Botanical Garden of Cayenne is a pleasant green space on the outskirts of Cayenne, which, despite the fact that it sometimes lacks a little maintenance, constitutes a very beautiful space for relaxation. Created in 1879 by the Conseil Général to replace, on a smaller scale, the Jardin Royal des Plantes created in 1820 by the colonial administration, this garden became the Baduel nursery, which was later abandoned due to insufficient yields from the eleven-hectare operation.

Now stretching over three hectares, the Jardin Botanique de Cayenne is the city's largest landscaped green space, and is dedicated to walking and relaxation. Plants of seemingly infinite shapes and colors line the countless paths and tracks, while educational totems set up here and there along the way tell you all about their origins.

Whether you're a Guianese resident or just passing through, you're sure to be amazed by the variety of plant species found here, starting with the ninety-nine different species in the palm family alone! Although not all of these species are represented in the botanical garden, you'll still be able to appreciate a fine sample. It should also be noted that the site is occasionally used as a backdrop for official events and other cultural festivals. A must for nature lovers!

A descendant of slaves, Guyanese politician and humanist, Félix Eboué had been colonial governor of Chad since July 1938 when he joined the Free French following General de Gaulle's Appeal of June 18, 1940. He was soon followed by the other countries of French Equatorial Africa, illustrating his patriotism as a hero of the Liberation. He was the "first resistance fighter from overseas France", but also the first black man to achieve such a high rank when he was appointed governor of Guadeloupe in 1936.

In 1883, Félix Eboué's father acquired a plot of land at 37 rue Richelieu. He had a single-storey colonial house built on the corner of the street, which today bears his son's name. As in most Creole houses of the period, the kitchen was located outside, in the courtyard. Acquired by the General Council of French Guiana in 1989, Félix Eboué's birthplace has since been transformed into a museum. It presents the history of the resistance fighter and his political career, from his posting to Oubangui-Chari to his governorship of Chad, via his years of interim governance in Guadeloupe. Explanatory panels and period artefacts provide an insight into the life of "this great African Frenchman" - as General de Gaulle described him on his death - the first black man to be buried in the Pantheon on May 20, 1949, at the same time as Victor Schoelcher, author of the decree abolishing slavery.

The park covers the communes of Mana, Awala-Yalimapo, Regina-Kaw and Roura. Although the aim of the park is to enhance the natural, cultural and ethnological heritage of these regions, it is not subject to any real regulations. However, objectives have been set with an obligation to achieve results over a specific period of time. In a nutshell, the Regional Nature Park of French Guiana (PNRG) aims to develop a quality rural territory, inhabited and enhanced.

Prefecture of French Guiana since 1947, this U-shaped establishment was originally a Jesuit convent whose mission was to serve parishes, catechize slaves and, above all, convert Amerindians. Built between 1749 and 1752, the French ban on Jesuits in the colonies from 1762 forced them to abandon the site. Under the mandate of Victor Hugues, the building became the Hôtel des Gouverneurs and later housed the prefecture.

Since 2012, this establishment - a veritable little museum of Guyanese culture - has been exhibiting and selling items from local crafts. You'll find jewelry, hut skies and pottery. Videos and documents are made available to the public, showing the different processes involved in making the objects. On Saturdays, it becomes a real meeting place for sharing know-how, thanks to the various workshops on offer (engraving, sculpture, etc.).

Laser game, slides, bouncy castle, ball pool, electric karting, etc. The perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon with the family, or to celebrate a birthday. L'Île aux Trésors offers birthday packages (for 8 children or more) including park admission, tokens for children's go-karts, unlimited water/syrup, cake and candles, popcorn, souvenir photo and invitation cards. Perfect for kids... and parents! All aboard!

This temporary exhibition hall for Guyanese artists offers a wide range of events relating to the history and culture of the people of Rémire-Montjoly and its immediate surroundings, including Cayenne. It occupies the walls of Rémire-Montjoly's first school, built in 1908 to accommodate those affected by the eruption of Mount Pelée, which unleashed fiery clouds on the island of Martinique in 1902.

On the harbor quays, a few tapouilles - keel-less boats ideal for coastal sailing - have been adorned by their owners with naive paintings. Beyond the Laussat cove, you enter an area "undergoing rehabilitation": a few Brazilian, Creole or Chinese restaurants, and at nightfall, ladies offering their charms while the air is filled with forbidden scents. Unaccompanied visits to "Chicago" are not recommended.

Pointe Buzaré used to be covered by mangroves, but these have now disappeared, mainly due to the systematic felling by local residents of mangroves, the tropical trees that thrive along sea shores. The site now offers a relaxing setting: a rocky promontory facing the ocean, protected by palm trees, and a sandy beach. And the remaining marshland is a remarkable site for birdwatching. A place to admire beautiful sunsets. Late-night visits not recommended.

The Groupe d'études et de protection des oiseaux en Guyane regularly organizes birdwatching outings for the general public, and its members will certainly be able to guide you or give you explanations on a particular bird. Keep up to date with news and events on their website. Here are a few tips from GEPOC: always allow enough time to get home before dark, and bring an electric torch with you. And if you're unfamiliar with the region, be sure to bring someone with you!

Installed in the center of Place Léopold-Héder, the fountain dates back to the first water supply from the Rorota mountains in Rémire. The work was carried out by convicts at the end of the ^19th century. Built in 1867, the fountain was dedicated to Governor Tardy de Montravel, who had succeeded in solving the town's water supply problem: as soon as he was appointed Governor of French Guiana on February 16, 1959, he set about improving the health of the entire Bagne territory.

Adjacent to the Place des Palmistes, the former Place de Grenoble forms the historic center of Cayenne and is home to some superb colonial buildings (including the pretty Fontaine de Montravel). Nestled in the former Jesuit convent, this is where you'll find the Hôtel de la Préfecture and its beautiful colonnade, added to the building's façade at the instigation of Governor Chanel in 1925. Place Léopold-Héder was listed as a historic monument on March 9, 1999.

The tourist office is well stocked with brochures of all kinds and maps of the city. The very competent and willing staff are on hand to provide information on upcoming events in and around Cayenne, as well as in the rest of French Guiana. In particular, they offer a "discovery of Creole houses" tour of Cayenne. A highly recommended stopover when visiting downtown Cayenne, next to Place des Palmistes.

Since 1994, this association has been involved in the study and conservation of Guiana's fauna, conducting programs on emblematic endangered species. It is particularly active in the protection of turtles and their nesting grounds: a team of guides supervises egg-laying and advises walkers (don't hesitate to talk to them, they're real turtle enthusiasts!). It also manages the Salines natural site on Montjoly beach and conducts environmental education initiatives throughout French Guiana.

Founded in 1668, Loyola Dwelling was one of the most important European colonial farms of its time. It functioned as a multi-ethnic society, with the Jesuit fathers, site administrators, European workers, a large number of slaves from Africa and a handful of natives living side by side. Covering almost 1,000 hectares at its peak, the Loyola settlement established itself as one of Guyana's main production centers for cocoa, coffee and sugar, as well as, to a lesser extent, pottery and blacksmithing. In 1740, the Jesuits even introduced indigo cultivation.

Soon impoverished by falling cocoa and coffee prices, but also by a slowdown in soil production, the dwelling turned to molasses production and tafia distillation, before abandoning for good the sugar business, like indigo, and turning to cotton production. In 1763, King Louis XV ordered the expulsion of the Jesuits from the Kingdom of France. Declared bankrupt, the Society of Jesus left the dwelling, which was later requisitioned by the French army and played its part in the Kourou expedition.

During your visit, you'll follow a 4.6 km loop trail that leads to the remains of the dwelling: the master's house, the chapel, the sugar mill and the windmill. Gutted or low walls bear witness to a bygone prosperity.

From 1643, as France organized expeditions to colonize French Guiana, the Jesuits settled on the îlet la Mère. Then, in 1776, the islet was used to house Cayenne's lepers, before becoming a farm and later a penitentiary, one of the first penal colonies in French Guiana: some fifteen buildings could accommodate up to 600 inmates. 20 years after its opening, however, an epidemic of yellow fever ravaged the island, which was abandoned. Much later, in 1981, the Institut Pasteur built an annex on the islet, at the same time as setting up a saimiri farm: these squirrel monkeys are used to collect serum for anti-malarial treatment. In 2001, the Institut Pasteur withdrew, and the islets were assigned to the Conservatoire du Littoral, which installed information and discovery panels to help visitors better understand the history of îlet la Mère.

Today, although the islet has returned to its wild state, it has preserved a number of building remains, most of which date back to the penal colony era. Along a 3.5 km (1h30) circuit, you'll see the remains of a hospital and a church, as well as the ruins of buildings where convicts were locked up. There's also a climb up to a former semaphore, at the foot of which a covered carbet has been set up for picnics in the shade (but not for overnight stays).