Things to see and do North Caribbean

This Dominican church, classified as a historical monument, is one of the oldest on the island. Dating from 1640, it was rebuilt in 1762 after a fire during a battle between armed forces. To the left of the entrance door, a mosaic was made from ceramic shards found in Saint-Pierre after the eruption of Mount Pelee. Note the carved wooden scallop shell on the façade and the barrel vault decorated with scrolls and arabesques.

This small tourist office in the heart of Saint-Pierre is housed in the Maison de la Bourse, which hosted the first chamber of commerce on the island. It gathers a lot of information, brochures, and indications to visit the city of Art and History, and the surroundings. It also organizes thematic visits of the city, upon reservation and in small groups. As the ruins are not signposted, we advise you to have them indicated to you, it would be a shame to miss them! A great source of information about Saint-Pierre.

On the heights of Bellefontaine, a strange ship's prow dominates the town. The story goes that a certain Mr. Dubois was behind this strange dwelling, inspired by the modernist architecture of the time. Completed in 1948, this second home took the name Torgiléo from the first names of the Dubois family (Victor the designer, Virginie his wife, Leo their son). The interior is fitted out like a ship, with cabins and a promenade deck. If this private house cannot be visited, it promises some nice shots!

Built of wood and brown stone, Bellefontaine church dates back to 1962. Its bells are listed. A building with an original architecture (its bell tower is in fact separate from the main body), its construction is the fruit of the joint efforts of the people of Bellefontaine. Seeing that the old church was no longer able to accommodate the faithful, the population raised funds to build a new one. Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens retains six wrought-iron statues by Joseph René-Corail.

Located at the eastern end of rue Levassor in the quartier du Fort, the Génie and Ponts et Chaussées offices occupy the site of a private house built in 1810, following the dismantling of part of the Larochetière dwelling at the end of the ^18th century. In 1855, the site became the headquarters of the French Engineering and Civil Engineering Departments. The eruption of 1902 destroyed all structures except the terraces and retaining wall; the remaining buildings are in ruins. The site housed several buildings arranged in a tiered construction on several terraces linked by staircases. In the middle of the upper terrace was the main building, which housed the offices of the Engineering and Civil Engineering Departments. The back wall of this rectangular building was pierced by a double waterfall that fed a basin built at its foot. The middle terrace featured two large circular basins. On the lower terrace were two buildings: a guardhouse and stables. A striking feature of the site is the ingenious hydraulic system that supplied water via the canal du Fort to the Bureau du Génie and the Ponts et Chaussées, as well as to the Maison Coloniale de Santé opposite. The omnipresence of water is typical of pre-1902 Saint-Pierre: controlled runoff, cascading waterfalls, fountains and ornamental spray basins, a functional pool, running water upstairs.

This downloadable smartphone application allows you to find information by geolocating it. This interactive map includes many visuals. You can also leave comments. This application is the result of the work of the Mwen Désann Sen Piè Commission, initiated by the Rotary Club of Saint-Pierre. 24/7 access to the tourist offer and to all the necessary information to organize your stay: accommodation, recreational activities.

At the top of the Morne d'Orange, the Virgin of the Sailors, also called

Notre-Dame du Bon Port, has watched over the city since 1870. Its base was destroyed by the fiery cloud of May 8, 1902; the 4-tonne statue was thrown several meters lower but, miraculously, came out of the eruption unscathed! To see it, you have to take the road that crosses the D1 (direction Fonds-Saint-Denis). At the top, turn to the right. Park your car and finish the few remaining meters on foot. From there, the view on the bay of Saint-Pierre is breathtaking.

The tree is one of the rare survivors of the 1902 eruption. Rooted for more than two centuries, the cheese tree of Saint-Pierre stands majestically at the edge of the departmental road that goes to Fonds-Saint-Denis. Completely burned by the cloud of fire, only a piece of charred trunk remains, but 50 years after the catastrophe, buds, and leaves appear on the burned trunk. Aimé Césaire was fascinated by the destiny of this tree, which he often came to see.

On June 15, 1502, during his fourth voyage to the Americas, Spanish navigator Christopher Columbus landed in Martinique and set foot on the beach of Le Carbet. With its three wooden masts representing those of Christopher Columbus' ship, a brand-new memorial pays tribute to this historic event. It is located at the exit of Le Carbet, along the RN2, in the direction of Saint-Pierre, at the edge of the sea, adjacent to the village hut, facing the sea.

The Beauregard Canal is a 2-hour walk along an irrigation path built in the 18th century by Mr. Beauregard, also known as the "Canal des Esclaves". At the time, hundreds of slaves transported the heavy stones used to build the irrigation canal to bring the water from the forest to the Caribbean coast. The hike, surrounded by majestic cheese makers, follows the canal, starts at the place called Maison Rousse and returns by the same path. Sometimes we even walk on the low wall, between the water and the void.

One of the most beautiful churches on the island. Flanked by its cemetery, it shines in its bright yellow dress. It is dedicated to saint James in memory of Jacques du Parquet, the first governor of the colony. The mixture of baroque and neoclassical styles of the 18^th century, with a sober, but charming interior, is rather interesting. Inside, the choir is decorated with effigies of St. James the Greater. Go around and see the presbytery.

Located at an altitude of 700 meters, the Domaine Martiniquais d'Expérimentation (DoME) of Grande Savane in Prêcheur is dedicated to the mountain Pelee in cohesion with the management plan of the classified site of the northwestern slopes of the mountain Pelee. It is very active in the research of the environment and the heritage little exploited until now, constituted of a covered space and a museographic course with information on the fauna, the flora, the pedology, the meteorology…

The starting point of the shuttle that leads to the site is located in the village of Le Prêcheur. On the spot, you'lldiscover the 360° view on the belvedere, from the Caribbean Sea to the top of the mount Pelée, then go to the Lacroix area where you'll discover the history of mount Pelée, but also that of Grande Savane and its first inhabitants.

The visit continues on the outside ramp that winds above the Grande Savane hiking trail. You'll circulate through the trees, discovering different species of birds, animal species of the past, some of which can still be observed. The tour also deals with the construction of the landscape through the different eruptions that built the landscape as we see it today.

The visit lasts between 2 and 4 hours. We recommend you bring walking shoes, or at least sneakers, and to have clothes adapted for walking in the middle of nature.

There is also a rest area, a store, and a heliport.

The old prison of Saint-Pierre is famous for having housed the dungeon of Cyparis, the “sole survivor” of the eruption of Mount Pelee. When the volcano erupted, Louis-Auguste Cyparis, who was imprisoned there for having attacked a fellow prisoner with a knife, was injured by the burning smoke from the volcano but thanks to his confinement, survived the catastrophe. He was found 3 days later by the rescuers of Morne-Rouge. Today, the dungeon, which is accessible to visitors, is one of the historical sites of the disaster.

The Regional Natural Park of Martinique has different information points around the island on the visits of sites, hikes and walks to do in the neighboring municipalities. A store also offers a wide variety of products from local know-how and crafts. Guided tours are available upon reservation, and audioguides for free visits are available to visitors. Maps are also available to help you find your way around the numerous hikes that are possible in the area.

Located on Place Bertin, where goods used to transit to and from ships docked in the port of Saint-Pierre, the Maison de la Bourse used to be the former chamber of commerce of Saint-Pierre.

Destroyed by the 1902 eruption, the current building, rebuilt identically by Gérard Jacqua, former Architect of the Bâtiments de France, appears as a true archetype of Creole architecture, witnessing the refinement and prosperity of Saint-Pierre at the end of the 19^th century. Today it houses the tourist office.

Within the framework of its policy of promotion and mediation of its heritage, the City of Saint-Pierre, through its Heritage and Tourism Department, suggests fun activities and guided tours accessible to all throughout the year. On the occasion of events such as the European Archaeology Days and Heritage Days, other activities can be organized. It is also possible to order customized activities, such as a thematic guided tour, not included in the catalog.

Just before arriving in Saint-Pierre, a sign indicates their presence. Created by the Martinique artist Laurent Valère, Manman Dlo and Yémaya are two monumental mermaids that rest in the bay of Saint-Pierre at a depth of nine meters. They are located about fifty meters from the shore and their presence is indicated by a yellow buoy. Over the years, a reef has been created around them, and today they attract an important underwater fauna and flora. They are accessible to all and can be observed with a mask and a snorkel.

Toch's cabin, once his grandfather's, now the Wahoo Café, is a must for Northern leisure activities: hiking, rivers, waterfalls, zoo, beaches... It's the ideal starting point for sea excursions to discover the different species of cetaceans: dolphins, whales, sperm whales and turtles. Explore the flora and fauna, and try your hand at fishing with Captain Toch. Enjoy authentic recipes based on local spices, "boucanés", homemade fish and chips, and the famous fish burger.

The Paul-Gauguin Heritage Interpretation Center in Martinique, opened in July 2017, works to disseminate the Martinican creations of painters Paul Gauguin and Charles Laval. We discover the Caribbean saga of the two painters during their time in Martinique, through the reproductions of their letters and their works. A unique stroll through the paintings of Paul Gauguin through virtual reality. Drawing and painting workshops, among others, are possible.