Things to see and do Fort-De-France & Area

Developed under the Second Empire as a chic district of the capital away from the working-class Terres Sainville neighborhood, Giopeinture still maintains its bourgeois allure today. It's a pleasant place to stroll and look for vestiges of early ^20th-century Art Nouveau architecture. The Villa Primerose (1906-1920) was one of the most successful examples: this historic monument unfortunately burned down completely in July 2014.

Originally a vacant lot, this very beautiful park was laid out on the occasion of the town's centenary in 1988, and earned Saint-Joseph a prize awarded at the Communes Fleuries 2000 competition. Many botanical species can be found here. Bamboo, palm trees, balisiers and alpinias live peacefully together here. It must be said that Saint-Joseph, nicknamed the "granary of Martinique", is a paradise for plants: everything grows here and this garden is the perfect testimony!

Located in the heart of the Gondeau district in Saint-Joseph, this family garden is home to an astonishing variety of floral and plant species. The highlight is the superb vegetable garden in which fruit trees, medicinal and ornamental plants flourish. Cultivated with care and respect for nature, it is enriched with manure straight from the adjoining henhouse. A lovely garden to discover with the family!

Awarded the "Jardin Remarquable" label, this livestock farm created in 1993 houses gardens, a restaurant, a butcher's shop, a fishmonger's, a concert hall and a wildlife park with a permanent collection of local plants. Guests include macaw parrots, ibises, flamingos, peacocks and farmyard animals. A children's playground with zip-line, swings and pirate ship completes the picture... Organic farmers' market on Saturday mornings.

This museum shows the passion and work of Father Pinchon, a great nature lover and a precursor in the knowledge of Martinique's biodiversity, through panels and display cases of the island's animals organized by type of environment. It also houses an exhibition of herbarium boards: ferns, a passion of Father Pinchon, and insects that live in Creole gardens, in collaboration with Martinique Entomologie. Different workshops and exhibitions are organized all year long, an exciting visit for the whole family.

In love with her native island, Christelle loves to share her culture with visitors. The idea is to immerse visitors in the heart of authentic Martinique and to tell its history with anecdotes. The common thread is to share the gastronomy, flavors and local specificities. Several types of tours are offered: the bestseller is the “Pile ou face” which retraces the history of Saint-Pierre through the tropical forest. We also like the “RockSandSip” which takes you back to the time of the Native Americans.

A short but sporty hike… It starts on the small path that goes along the water treatment plant on the right. After a steep descent, you will cross a dark tunnel and will reach in twenty minutes a first waterfall. After crossing the river and following a narrow path, you will then reach a second crystal clear waterfall (another 20 minutes walk). Don't forget your bathing suit, a flashlight and especially your picnic! Not recommended for children under 8 years old because some passages are very steep.

Despite a large population of more than 17,000 inhabitants spread over 4,329 hectares, Saint-Joseph remains an authentic place representative of deep Martinique. The wild beauty of its natural sites makes Saint-Joseph a true haven of peace and a nice starting point for multiple walks around: forests with rare species, rivers, and gardens with varied flowers, incomparable show of a luxuriant vegetation crossed by magnificent rivers. The tourist office will be able to show you the most important itineraries.

In this garden, located in the heart of Fort-de-France, hides a green oasis flanked by a colonial house and an enchanting garden. Ornamental, medicinal and aromatic plants thrive here in complete tranquillity, surrounded by works of art harmoniously arranged here and there among the plants. In this charming setting lives an artist: Agnès Jean-François, known as JAF. It was she who imagined this garden all around the colonial house that once belonged to her husband's grandmother, Yves Jean-François (JYF), now deceased, and he too an artist. After visiting the garden, you can admire JAF's sculptures and paintings in her former studio. A true parenthesis of greenery in the Foyalaise urban area, the JYF and JAF hut is only open to visitors once a year during the Rendez-vous aux jardins.

The objective of the Jardin de l'Espérance integration project is to enhance the value of the professions involved in horticultural production, medicinal and aromatic plants, and waste recovery. The association l'Espérance - Patronage Saint-Louis is home to an integration centre that welcomes people between 16 and 30 years of age and supports them in their project to return to work. The idea is to use the garden as a tool to enable them to reintegrate and reconnect with nature and society. After creating a Creole garden, this ambitious integration project is devoted to the cultivation of endemic plants, the creation of a health trail and should allow the redevelopment of the banks of the Monsieur River, which flows from Dillon to Saint-Joseph, a watercourse full of history that runs along the garden site. Eco-citizen and educational workshops are frequently organized there.

On the slopes of Morne Garnier grows a mini-urban jungle where vegetables, medicinal plants and fruit trees live in harmony. This is where the Centre de Culture Populaire Ypiranga de Pastinha Martinique (CCPYPM) has developed an experimental urban garden in an old quarry that had to be completely cleared and redeveloped.

A project that was a little mad at the beginning, but which has been fruitful since the association has been entrusted with the development of an eco-environment, this time located in Tivoli.

It must be said that the CCPYPM association has energy to spare. A dozen people, employees, civic services and volunteers, work daily to reconnect the inhabitants with nature and use the garden as a support for environmental education.

Through the work of the land, the idea is to transmit values such as sharing, raise awareness of eco-citizen issues (waste recycling, safeguarding local heritage) and learn to eat healthily. Here, a part of the plots is managed by the association and the young people of the district; the other part is put at the disposal of the inhabitants to cultivate their vegetables.

Events are regularly organized. People come here to learn how to garden, to watch the aquaponics ponds work and to feed the rabbits and chickens in the garden. The association has also developed a solidarity store that delivers baskets to isolated people, as well as a mini-market every firstSaturday of the month.

Managed by the Acsion Services association, the Atoumo garden (named after the plant that cures "all ills") is home to over 250 varieties of medicinal plants endemic to Martinique. Inaugurated in 2015, it showcases the traditional use of medicinal plants and enables this knowledge to be passed on to future generations. In addition to schoolchildren and local residents who come to attend workshops to learn how to grow a few medicinal plants, the garden also welcomes the general public and sells seedlings for direct planting.

The Regional Natural Park of Martinique was born in 1976 from the desire to combine the economic development of the island with the preservation of its natural and cultural wealth. Since its creation, it has contributed to raising awareness of the link between nature and culture within the Martinican identity. The PNRM implements projects throughout the territory of the Park, which covers two thirds of the island, i.e. 32 municipalities. It intervenes in particular on :

- the diversification of the tourist offer in terms of green tourism, ecotourism and agritourism;

- the development of local products;

- the preservation of landscapes;

- raising awareness of respect for the environment and the need for eco-citizen behaviour;

- the animation and promotion of the territory;

- the protection of the land;

- the implementation of scientific studies on biodiversity ;

- training in environmental professions.

In this socio-educational agricultural farm, there is of course a "production" centre where vegetables, fruit, herbs and medicinal plants are produced, a "nature" centre which houses a leisure centre for children from 3 to 11 years old, all governed by the "transmission" centre and the "social" centre, the main thread of learning. Within this structure, early learning and games are combined with nature and animals to offer another way of learning, while having fun and, if possible, strengthening the bond between parents and children. In addition to their interventions throughout the year, the teams of the P'tite Ferme Eco propose during the holidays an airy centre that combines leisure, nature and learning. Workshops are organised around education on food, taste, the environment, Martinique's cultural heritage, but also self-respect and respect for others. Another way of seeing and understanding the world.

In Tivoli, the objective of the CCPYPM association (at the initiative of the Jardin de Trénelle-Citron) is even more ambitious: to create on this 6,000^m2 site an ecolieu, i.e. a model place in terms of food, energy and medicinal self-sufficiency, with a guided sensory path, an educational farm and workshops (gardening, composting, agroecology). It is home to the island's first plant library-school, with 150 species listed for the ailments they treat (nervous, intestinal, digestive...). Mini-market every^1st Saturday of the month.

Tété Dwèt ("delicious" in Creole) is a concept for gourmet walks in Fort-de-France. During these guided tours, you'll explore the main town and delve into the island's culinary history, while making tasting stops at food retailers who love homemade food and sharing it with others. Each stop is punctuated by anecdotes and explanations. This original activity combines culinary pleasure and cultural discovery. Perfect for solo, couples, friends or family! Book online (www.tetedwet.com).

Tanbou Bòkannal is the island's most famous carnival group, renowned for marching in the "vidés" of Martinique's capital. The name also evokes Fort-de-France's oldest district. The association celebrated its ^50th anniversary and inaugurated a small temporary museum dedicated to carnival heritage. In this cabinet of curiosities, you can admire traditional costumes such as "Mas à lanmo", "Maryann lapo fig", "Diab rouj" and many others.

It's unthinkable to stay in Martinique without taking the time to learn a little about bananas, the symbol, along with sugar cane, of the Caribbean islands. Habitation Belfort is a farm that has been established for over thirty years in the commune of Le Lamentin. It specializes in banana cultivation, exporting 90% of its production. It covers an area of over 65 hectares. The aim of the farm is to preserve and perpetuate agricultural activity, and since 2007 it has been awarded the Global Gap label for its sustainable agriculture. The main attraction of this visit is to get inside a real farm that operates on a day-to-day basis, giving you a better understanding of the reality of production. The guided tour lasts around an hour and ends with a tasting of local produce. Last but not least, a banana kid is on hand to help children take an educational tour. After your visit, we recommend a stop at the pretty boutique at the entrance, where you'll find local banana products. The estate is also home to a majestic Creole villa, known as "Les Jardins de Belfort", a dream setting in the middle of the plantation. This villa and the little train are often privatized for seminars, weddings or cultural events. A privileged stopover to discover without delay.