In 1613, two Dutch, Dirck Claeszoon Van Sanen and Nicolaas Baliestel, built a small trading company alongside the Amerindian village Parmirbo. This location on West Bank - West Bank - the Suriname river, 23 km from the Atlantic Ocean, is the origin of the current Paramaribo, the capital of the Republic of Suriname. In 1650, the city became capital of the new English colony, founded by Lord Francis Willoughby of Parham, Governor of Barbados. In 1667, during the Anglo-Dutch war, the city was taken by the fleet of ships led by Abraham Crijnssen. The Treaty of Breda of 1667 established Paramaribo as the most important city in the Dutch colonies. After various passages of power between English and Dutch, the city will definitely pass under Dutch authority from 1815 until its independence in 1975. In January 1821, the city was devastated by a violent fire that destroyed 400 houses. Eleven years later, a second fire will destroy 46 houses.Today, the city is very alive, the cars are numerous and the streets are with people doing their shopping. On the shopping side, you can find a wide variety of fabrics, crafts and brand-name clothing. The evenings are also agitées and electric: musical buses rented for special occasions travel through the main streets, bars meet the rhythm of the Moorish sounds, clubs are crowded and the many casinos of the city do not empty.On Sunday, the agitation goes down to allow quiet streets, the opportunity to take advantage of the magnificent architecture of the historic old town centre classified as UNESCO World Heritage in 2002, which presents: ' the gradual fusion of European architecture and construction techniques with indigenous South American materials and crafts, which eventually gave rise to a new architectural language '. The buildings and houses are wooden, and we strongly remind US Louisiana with its Creole houses. The main outstanding buildings are Fort Zeelandia and the Presidential Palace. Religious architecture is also astonishing and varied. Among these buildings, visit the Basilica cathedral of Sint Petrus in Paulus, one of the highest wooden buildings in South America, seat of the Diocese of Paramaribo; admire the «Neveh Shalom» synagogue, 1837, or the Hindu temple Arya Dewaker…Numerous markets and numerous shops are available to familiarize themselves with the cultures in Suriname, around the famous Parbo bier. It is rather easy to find yourself in this capital, which can be visited by taxi or bike, especially in the historic centre. Parallel to the River Suriname, the grand avenue Waterkant offers a beautiful promenade, leading to the historic city centre and Fort Zeelandia. The streets are generally perpendicular to this large avenue, and crossed through the centre by a canal: Sommelsdijkse Kreek. Paramaribo is a combination of relaxation, architectural wealth, shopping and festive places, and will not leave you indifferent!

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Palais présidentiel de Paramaribo Mathieu DELMER
Statue de Wilhelmine, reine des Pays-Bas, à l'hôtel Courtyard de Paramaribo. FrankvandenBergh
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