History and natural science museums Martinique

Through its permanent and temporary exhibitions, the center offers in this symbolic place of the memory of the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelee, a tool to discover and better understand the Earth sciences. In a building designed according to innovative earthquake-resistant techniques, it offers exhibitions on current themes, notably concerning major natural hazards. Several films are also shown, including the moving and instructive Volcans des Antilles.

It is from a passion pursued since childhood and from many years of collecting that was born this museum of the marine world, created by Mickael Tosato. For years, Mickael has been constantly growing his collection, which he exhibits in the family hotel l'Ecrin bleu in Le Diamant. Mickael's passion for seashells began when he was four years old and he started collecting shells, especially queen conches. A few years ago, he had to leave Martinique and thus left the reins to his brother Fabien to share this fabulous collection. It was at the beginning of 2018 that Fabien founded this unique place dedicated to the sea and its inhabitants, in the pottery village. More than 2,000 different species, including 700 from the West Indies alone, are referenced there on 250 square meters of exhibition area, in a place that emphasizes the most careful staging.

Discover a great variety of shells, starfish, sea urchins, crustaceans, but also sharks and naturalized shark jaws (mako, lemon, hammerhead…) from the Caribbean coasts, without forgetting an impressive series of blue marlin rostrum and sawfish. The shells are classified by family. A little further on, a superb fish gallery completes your visit. A nice walk to discover this world of silence. End your visit by going to the store to buy a nice souvenir among the shells, starfish and other wonders of deep waters.

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.