Things to see and do Fort-De-France

The tourist office now covers the 4 communes of Fort-de-France, Le Lamentin, Saint-Joseph and Schoelcher. It offers guided tours of Fort-de-France off the beaten track. We highly recommend the "audioguided tour of the city center", to discover the most incredible corners of Martinique's capital! The team is super friendly and ready to guide you according to your preferences for unforgettable events and discoveries.

At the bend in the road to Balata, in the heart of a tropical environment, stands this building, which is a replica of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre on a scale of 1/5, the work of the English architect Charles Albert Wulfleff (1929). At the base of the dome is the following inscription: “Au Sacré-Coeur, la Martinique reconnaissante (To the Sacré-Coeur, Martinique is Grateful)”. In addition to its remarkable stained-glass windows and mosaics, the site offers a splendid view of Fort-de-France and its bay.

Take time to discover this colorful traditional market: it is one of the most beautiful shots of the city. Under the big hall, the stalls overflow with seasonal fruits, vegetables (avocados, yams, chayotes), flowers (shell ginger, anthuriums, ginger flowers), spices and condiments (nutmeg, chili pepper, banded wood, cinnamon, India wood). The “doudou, vini-vini” are the characteristic calls that set a sudden family atmosphere. It doesn't take long to get friendly with the market people while shopping.

It is one of the jewels of Fort-de-France. Several times destroyed (notably by the terrible fire of 1890), the old straw and pitchfork chapel was replaced in 1891 by the current cathedral. Its framework is entirely metallic in order to resist earthquakes, but also in reference to the techniques used in France by Gustave Eiffel. It houses the tombs of several governors of the island, whose exact location is kept scrupulously secret. It was classified as a historical monument in 1989.

Dillon changes its identity to Maison Dillon. The Dillon brand has been part of Martinique's history and heritage since 1779. The distillery grows its own sugar cane to produce its wide range of quality rums. Its rich saga includes rhums vieux, rhums blancs, punches and cane syrups. Now closed to the public, the industrial site continues to produce, developing its recipes and know-how away from the public eye. Visit our online boutique for a unique selection of exceptional rums.

It is one of the few places devoted to West Indian prehistory. Located near Place de la Savane, in a former 19^th century military commissariat building, the museum details the history of Amerindian settlement in the Lesser Antilles. The collections bring together more than 2,000 pieces from the pre-Columbian era, in particular ceramics and stone or shell tools dating from the Native Americans up to 4,000 years BC!

For a long time, the Savane was only a vast field of military training, on which the soldiers of the Fort-Saint-Louis garrison practiced.

This area, reclaimed from the mangrove by the governor of Blénac, was developed in the 19^th century to become the “Jardin du Roy”, flanked by a parade ground. It was then planted with a multitude of indigenous species: royal palms, bakouas, fig trees and cheese trees. These secular trees were devastated by Hurricane Dean in 2007.

The highlight of the restructuring of the Fort-de-France waterfront in the early 2010s, this vast 5-hectare green esplanade has been completely rehabilitated with, in the center, a mini-forest of royal palms, adorned with bougainvillea and traveler trees. All around, kiosks housing snack bars and souvenir stores line the square, which opens onto the pretty Plage de la Française. It was once lined with statues of Josephine and Pierre-Belain d'Esnambuc, who settled on the island just before the arrival of French settlers in 1635, but these were torn down and toppled in June 2020 by a group of activists.

Today, the Savane is one of the emblematic sites of Fort-de-France and one of the Foyalais' favorite places for walking: it hosts most of the events and becomes every year the nerve center of the island during the carnival. For the people of Martinique, in addition to its historical role, the Savane is also an important meeting place where lovers used to meet.

Typical of the development of metal architecture, the meat market dates from the beginning of the last century. Built in the same year as the large covered market, it is distinguishable for its magnificent ironwork. The stalls are manned by rather discreet men, but its unique atmosphere is due to the housewives who, in a verbal clatter, decide the price of the butchery! The same Creole atmosphere can be found at the fish market, which is held along the canal.

Formerly a courthouse built in the heart of the city between 1905 and 1907, the building now houses the municipal department of culture of Fort-de-France. The neoclassical academic style architecture (columns, architraves, pediments, pilasters) presents an ordered façade on the upper part on which are engraved “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”. In front of the building is a statue of Victor Schoelcher, made in 1900 by a Parisian sculptor, commemorating the abolition of slavery. Rest in its park to the rhythm of its fountain.

Located in the heart of Fort-de-France in the shade of mango, pear and mahogany trees, the Regional Museum of History and Ethnography is one of the oldest bourgeois villas (1887) in the city center. Through the different rooms of the house, a reconstitution of a typical interior of the time, discover a collection of traditional Creole costumes, jewelry, paintings, old books and documents retracing some of Martinique's great historical episodes.

Much more than a cultural action center, this hub of activity welcomes young Martinican talent to discover traditional dance, music, theater and plastic arts. SERMAC's facilities are located in the heart of the floral and cultural park, which is also home to Le Grand Carbet auditorium, a major venue for Fort-de-France's cultural festival. And it's a beautiful green space in the heart of the lower town.

With its well-illustrated website, filled with lots of practical information, the Comité Martiniquais du Tourisme offers a superb introduction to any stay on the island. With its beautiful photos and calendar of events, the website meets all types of needs for all types of clientele. If you are not connected to the internet, go directly to the building located on the seafront of the capital to find tips and other valuable advice.

The Parc Naturel Régional de la Martinique offers "relays" at various points around the island. These are dedicated to providing information and raising public awareness on themes relating to heritage, culture and all the outdoor activities offered by the PNRM throughout the territory. You'll also find information on site visits, hikes and walks in the surrounding communes, as well as a store offering a wide variety of local and artisanal products.

Developed under the Second Empire as a chic district of the capital away from the working-class Terres Sainville neighborhood, Giopeinture still maintains its bourgeois allure today. It's a pleasant place to stroll and look for vestiges of early ^20th-century Art Nouveau architecture. The Villa Primerose (1906-1920) was one of the most successful examples: this historic monument unfortunately burned down completely in July 2014.

This museum shows the passion and work of Father Pinchon, a great nature lover and a precursor in the knowledge of Martinique's biodiversity, through panels and display cases of the island's animals organized by type of environment. It also houses an exhibition of herbarium boards: ferns, a passion of Father Pinchon, and insects that live in Creole gardens, in collaboration with Martinique Entomologie. Different workshops and exhibitions are organized all year long, an exciting visit for the whole family.

In love with her native island, Christelle loves to share her culture with visitors. The idea is to immerse visitors in the heart of authentic Martinique and to tell its history with anecdotes. The common thread is to share the gastronomy, flavors and local specificities. Several types of tours are offered: the bestseller is the “Pile ou face” which retraces the history of Saint-Pierre through the tropical forest. We also like the “RockSandSip” which takes you back to the time of the Native Americans.

A short but sporty hike… It starts on the small path that goes along the water treatment plant on the right. After a steep descent, you will cross a dark tunnel and will reach in twenty minutes a first waterfall. After crossing the river and following a narrow path, you will then reach a second crystal clear waterfall (another 20 minutes walk). Don't forget your bathing suit, a flashlight and especially your picnic! Not recommended for children under 8 years old because some passages are very steep.