Streets squares and districts to visit Cayenne

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 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.

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.

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.