Travel Guide Saint Pierre

The forgotten "capital", the former "Little Paris" of the West Indies, the city of Mount Pelée... There's no shortage of names to describe Saint-Pierre, founded in 1635 and a former center of economic and cultural activity in the Caribbean, whose existence came to an abrupt halt on May 8, 1902. Deeply scarred by the eruption of Mount Pelée, listed as one of the 20th century's most deadly natural disasters, Saint-Pierre, classified as a Ville d'Art et d'Histoire (Town of Art and History), seems to be slowly emerging from its long torpor, thanks in particular to tourism and the divers who ply its magnificent bay. The statue of Frank Perret, an American vulcanologist, greets you at the entrance to the town. Opposite, Mount Pelée dominates the region, provided the sun is shining. It asserts its authority and power, a terrible sentinel that today's Antilleans know how to respect. Wedged between the mountain and the turquoise sea beyond the gray sand, Saint-Pierre has the flowery allure of a typical Martinican town: bougainvillea, coconut palms and carefree street life. Only a few ruins stand as a reminder of a heavy past, now engulfed. Traffic flows along two separate one-way roads. Tourists, who pour into the town in myriads of buses, contemplate the smiling town between glasses of fresh juice, searching in vain for what there is no longer to see. The fish market, which has recently been completely refurbished, overlooks the seafront and backs onto the covered market. On the heights of the town, a number of beautiful villas enjoy exceptional panoramic views. Near the 8 à Huit, you'll find bouis-bouis where you can find a little of everything. For a taste of local history and the world of volcanoes, visit the Memorial de la Catastrophe de 1902 for a personalized guided tour of the famous, deadly eruption. If you're looking for relics, a visit to the old theater is a must. In the ruins, a superb statue seems to question the sky, symbolizing Saint-Pierre rising from the ashes in the manner of the Phoenix. Just a few yards away is the former prison of Saint-Pierre, with the dungeon of the prisoner Cyparis, who was miraculously protected from the blast of hell. After a fight with a friend, he found himself locked up in Saint-Pierre prison when the catastrophe struck. He was the only recognized survivor, the only one not to have breathed in the deadly gas. He later joined Barnum's circus, where he was exhibited as a curious beast.