PLACE OF VICTORY

This is Pointe-à-Pitre's oldest town square. It was the scene of Victor Hugues' victorious battle against the British in 1794. To celebrate the event, hourglasses, royal palms, flamboyants and Gabonese tulip trees have been planted on the site.

The vegetation, set against a backdrop of ^19th-century Creole architecture, creates a pleasing setting for meetings and strolls. Its central rectangle seems to gather the city around it. In 1995, a vast circular space, the agora, inspired by the theater of Epidaurus, was laid out to link the garden to the dock. Alongside old buildings such as the Pavillon de la Ville (a former presbytery) and the Marché de la Darse (a metal-framed market hall typical of the ^19th century) are the sous-préfecture and colonial houses. The garden features busts of Félix Eboué and Général Frébault, a war memorial and a bandstand. The Place de la Victoire is a lively market place, best visited during the day. It's best to avoid walking around after dark. The island's first Renaissance cinema, closed in 2001, once stood proudly opposite the square. It was destroyed by fire in 2020. Completely demolished in early 2022, it is now awaiting restoration. The site will then be rebuilt by a private investor, with the aim of reviving an economic activity yet to be defined.