Things to see and do Cayenne

The Montabo trail is just under 4 km long (3.8 km to be exact), winding its way through the jungle, with multiple ascents and descents, and overlooking the ocean all the way! It's a great way to get in some exercise and enjoy the beautiful scenery, flora and fauna just outside Cayenne, without straying far from the city. Allow around 1? hours round trip for the less athletic. A pleasant trail with no particular difficulties, offering beautiful panoramic views.

The town's first market was called "l'Avancée". It was located at Grande-Savane (now Place des Palmistes), close to a post of soldiers known as the "advanced post". At the time, the inhabitants of the savannah were outside the town limits and, on their way to the market, were in fact on their way to the outpost.

At the same time, in the early ^18th century, plans for the city of Cayenne named the site of today's market "Place du Port", but it wasn't until 1842 that it was actually renamed Place du Marché. In 1888, a covered market was built here, flanked by public gardens. in 1907, the gardens were removed and new market halls were built, this time with a metal frame. The inauguration took place in 1910, making today's market an institution more than a century old!

Three times a week, the Cayenne market is a must for all producers. The stalls are filled with all the flavours, scents and colors of the country, and of the sub-region: Suriname, Brazil, Haiti... and Laos, thanks to the agricultural crops grown by the Hmongs of French Guiana. It's an opportunity to discover most of the local products: yams, bananas, sorossi, maripa, parépou, wassai and smoked chicken, black pudding, mango or soursop juice, as well as Chinese shrimp or chicken soup, or Brazilian specialties. A covered and open market, a must-see.

When you arrive in Cayenne, you'll be charmed by the square that forms the center of the town. It used to be called Grande Savane, like the square in Fort-de-France in Martinique, before it was developed. At the time, it was covered by a superb English garden, which was sacrificed to accommodate the town's annual festival. In 1822, Governor Laussat ordered trees to be planted. Today, it is adorned with majestic royal palms, some of which are over a hundred years old. Place des Palmistes remains a popular gathering place, bustling with activity during Carnival and in the evenings, when tourists and locals mingle to sample the delicious dishes concocted by the foodtrucks. In 1999, the square was listed as a historic monument.

Statue of Félix Eboué. At its center, since 1957, stands the statue of Félix Eboué, benefactor of French Guiana and governor of French Equatorial Africa in 1940. A staunch humanist who respected the differences of the peoples he administered, he was an effective architect of the decolonization of Africa.

Maison Thémire-Melkior or Bar des Palmistes. On the south side of the square, at 12 avenue du Général-de-Gaulle, you can see this beautiful ^19th-century Creole dwelling, beautifully restored in 2012. Its yellow silhouette with grey roofs and balconies now houses a comfortable hotel and a bar with terrace.

Theécole maternelle Joséphine Horth, built in the 1910s, is also well worth a visit.

This fish market, located in Cayenne's old port, includes a wholesale area and a retail area with twelve well-equipped booths. A wide choice of all Guiana's fish from sea and river: snapper, atipas, acoupas, machoirans, not forgetting the famous shrimps. This is an opportunity to discover previously unknown species. There's also an ice-making plant. Don't forget to try the shrimp puddings, sold near the main entrance... divine!

This square is located behind the old prison, facing the ocean. Although named after Auguste Horth (a schoolteacher who was also the first deputy mayor of Cayenne, Roland Barrat), it is more commonly known as "Place des Amandiers". With its bandstand and boules players in the evening, it offers a restful charm that attracts night owls and lovers alike. On shooting evenings, it's also the place to watch Ariane's flight for several minutes, thanks to the installation of a giant screen.

Housed in a mansion built in 1870 by a family of gold miners, the Musée des Cultures Guyanaises aims to showcase Guiana's heritage. It offers comprehensive documentation on French Guiana and a fine collection of objects testifying to a rich history and the presence of numerous ethnic groups. Enriched by engravings and various publications, the temporary exhibitions enable visitors to familiarize themselves with the region. Large documentation room upstairs.

A beautiful blue Creole house dating from 1842, which houses the municipal library and a museum with collections on Guiana's fauna, history, peoples and crafts. Not forgetting the string of paintings by former convict Francis Lagrange. This heritage building, in critical condition, has been selected by the Mission Patrimoine 2021 (led by the French Ministry of Culture and FDJ) for a thorough restoration.

In 1643, Frenchman Poncet de Brétigny bought the rock overlooking the island of Cayenne from the Galibi Indians and named it Cépérou Hill, after a Galibi Indian chief. The man fortified the rock and built a village, which later became the colony's main town. Then the Frenchman was killed by the Indians, and the name Cépérou fell into oblivion. The fort, however, continued to be a unifying element in the lives of the Cayennais, with its resounding siren punctuating the hours and howling for ten days when the town burned down in 1888.

It is the spiritual heart of Catholic Cayenne. In 1823, the Prefect Apostolic and the Administrator of French Guiana decided to build a new church to replace the dilapidated and cramped Saint-Nicolas. In 1933, Guyana's largest church became a cathedral. It was once surrounded by magnificent palm trees, which must have given it a certain allure. Restored in the 1990s, it has since been declared a historic monument.

The Botanical Garden of Cayenne is a pleasant green space on the outskirts of Cayenne, which, despite the fact that it sometimes lacks a little maintenance, constitutes a very beautiful space for relaxation. Created in 1879 by the Conseil Général to replace, on a smaller scale, the Jardin Royal des Plantes created in 1820 by the colonial administration, this garden became the Baduel nursery, which was later abandoned due to insufficient yields from the eleven-hectare operation.

Now stretching over three hectares, the Jardin Botanique de Cayenne is the city's largest landscaped green space, and is dedicated to walking and relaxation. Plants of seemingly infinite shapes and colors line the countless paths and tracks, while educational totems set up here and there along the way tell you all about their origins. Whether you're a Guianese resident or just passing through, you're sure to be amazed by the variety of plant species found here, starting with the ninety-nine different species in the palm family alone! Although not all of these species are represented in the botanical garden, you'll still be able to appreciate a fine sample. It should also be noted that the site is occasionally used as a backdrop for official events and other cultural festivals. A must for nature lovers!

A descendant of slaves, Guyanese politician and humanist, Félix Eboué had been colonial governor of Chad since July 1938 when he joined the Free French following General de Gaulle's Appeal of June 18, 1940. He was soon followed by the other countries of French Equatorial Africa, illustrating his patriotism as a hero of the Liberation. He was the "first resistance fighter from overseas France", but also the first black man to achieve such a high rank when he was appointed governor of Guadeloupe in 1936.

In 1883, Félix Eboué's father acquired a plot of land at 37 rue Richelieu. He had a single-storey colonial house built on the corner of the street, which today bears his son's name. As in most Creole houses of the period, the kitchen was located outside, in the courtyard. Acquired by the General Council of French Guiana in 1989, Félix Eboué's birthplace has since been transformed into a museum. It presents the history of the resistance fighter and his political career, from his posting to Oubangui-Chari to his governorship of Chad, via his years of interim governance in Guadeloupe. Explanatory panels and period artefacts provide an insight into the life of "this great African Frenchman" - as General de Gaulle described him on his death - the first black man to be buried in the Pantheon on May 20, 1949, at the same time as Victor Schoelcher, author of the decree abolishing slavery.

The park covers the communes of Mana, Awala-Yalimapo, Regina-Kaw and Roura. Although the aim of the park is to enhance the natural, cultural and ethnological heritage of these regions, it is not subject to any real regulations. However, objectives have been set with an obligation to achieve results over a specific period of time. In a nutshell, the Regional Nature Park of French Guiana (PNRG) aims to develop a quality rural territory, inhabited and enhanced.

Prefecture of French Guiana since 1947, this U-shaped establishment was originally a Jesuit convent whose mission was to serve parishes, catechize slaves and, above all, convert Amerindians. Built between 1749 and 1752, the French ban on Jesuits in the colonies from 1762 forced them to abandon the site. Under the mandate of Victor Hugues, the building became the Hôtel des Gouverneurs and later housed the prefecture.

Since 2012, this establishment - a veritable little museum of Guyanese culture - has been exhibiting and selling items from local crafts. You'll find jewelry, hut skies and pottery. Videos and documents are made available to the public, showing the different processes involved in making the objects. On Saturdays, it becomes a real meeting place for sharing know-how, thanks to the various workshops on offer (engraving, sculpture, etc.).

On the harbor quays, a few tapouilles - keel-less boats ideal for coastal sailing - have been adorned by their owners with naive paintings. Beyond the Laussat cove, you enter an area "undergoing rehabilitation": a few Brazilian, Creole or Chinese restaurants, and at nightfall, ladies offering their charms while the air is filled with forbidden scents. Unaccompanied visits to "Chicago" are not recommended.

Pointe Buzaré used to be covered by mangroves, but these have now disappeared, mainly due to the systematic felling by local residents of mangroves, the tropical trees that thrive along sea shores. The site now offers a relaxing setting: a rocky promontory facing the ocean, protected by palm trees, and a sandy beach. And the remaining marshland is a remarkable site for birdwatching. A place to admire beautiful sunsets. Late-night visits not recommended.

The Groupe d'études et de protection des oiseaux en Guyane regularly organizes birdwatching outings for the general public, and its members will certainly be able to guide you or give you explanations on a particular bird. Keep up to date with news and events on their website. Here are a few tips from GEPOC: always allow enough time to get home before dark, and bring an electric torch with you. And if you're unfamiliar with the region, be sure to bring someone with you!

Installed in the center of Place Léopold-Héder, the fountain dates back to the first water supply from the Rorota mountains in Rémire. The work was carried out by convicts at the end of the ^19th century. Built in 1867, the fountain was dedicated to Governor Tardy de Montravel, who had succeeded in solving the town's water supply problem: as soon as he was appointed Governor of French Guiana on February 16, 1959, he set about improving the health of the entire Bagne territory.

Adjacent to the Place des Palmistes, the former Place de Grenoble forms the historic center of Cayenne and is home to some superb colonial buildings (including the pretty Fontaine de Montravel). Nestled in the former Jesuit convent, this is where you'll find the Hôtel de la Préfecture and its beautiful colonnade, added to the building's façade at the instigation of Governor Chanel in 1925. Place Léopold-Héder was listed as a historic monument on March 9, 1999.

The tourist office is well stocked with brochures of all kinds and maps of the city. The very competent and willing staff are on hand to provide information on upcoming events in and around Cayenne, as well as in the rest of French Guiana. In particular, they offer a "discovery of Creole houses" tour of Cayenne. A highly recommended stopover when visiting downtown Cayenne, next to Place des Palmistes.