FORT LOUIS DELGRÈS

Built around 1650, this fort is one of the jewels of the island's military architectural heritage. It was successively named Fort Royal, Fort Richepance and Fort Saint-Charles. It was finally the heroic figure of Colonel Delgrès (made famous by his brave action against the re-establishment of slavery) who prevailed. The fort was the scene of confrontations between the men led by Louis Delgrès and Joseph Ignace and Colonel Richepance who came to re-establish slavery on Bonaparte's orders in 1802.

In the fort, there is a cemetery where the graves of the soldiers who died during the colony are buried, the remains of a dungeon and the prison and the powder magazine. The 5-hectare site was classified as a historical monument in 1977. Today, it intensifies its tourist activity by multiplying thematic exhibitions throughout the year, notably on local history. On May 27, the day of the abolition of slavery in Guadeloupe, you can attend a reenactment of the fight of Colonel Delgrès. Throughout the year, the site offers a beautiful walk with a breathtaking view of the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Soufrière on the other. A permanent exhibition retraces the eventful history of the rebellion led by Delgrès. A second room houses an exhibition dedicated to the volcano La Soufrière. Fort Delgrès is integrated into the Slave Route itinerary which stakes out 20 different sites of the archipelago to allow visitors to understand the history of Guadeloupe.