Archaeological sites Martinique

Also known as the Salle de la Comédie, the theater of Saint-Pierre used to be, during the 18^th century, a famous stage in the West Indies where renowned troupes performed. It hosted the most popular plays of the time such as The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro and Le Déserteur by Michel-Jean Sedaine. Like the rest of the city, the theater was swept away by the disaster of 1902. Its ruins are now relatively well-preserved and attract many visits. A very nice walk with the Montagne Pelée in the background.

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.