Places to see in Martinique

While Martinique maybe famous the world over for its beautiful flowers, there are still plenty of wonderful places on the island to see. Fort-de-France is the capital and main city on Martinique, with a population of over 100,000 people. A modern urban metropolis, Fort-de-France is said to be the most cosmopolitan city in the Caribbean. One of the biggest tourist attractions in Fort-de-France has to be the Bibliotheque Schoelcher, which is a colorful building with a Byzantine dome. Built in Paris, this building was dismembered and brought here via ship, where today it houses many antique books and also functions as a library.

Fort St Lois is another tourist hotspot in the city along with the Cathedral St Louis, which is one of For-de-France’s most distinguishing landmarks. While in town, don’t forget to visit the archeological museum as well as the Palias de Justice, which is the city’s courthouse. To catch some fresh air visit the La Savane Park, where you can spot a statue of the Empress Josephine, while if you want to mingle with the locals, take a trip to the various markets in the city including the spice market, the farmers market and the produce market to get some great local buys.

Outside Fort-de-France, there are several interesting sights along the way including the village of Bellefontaine, where you can find vibrantly painted wooden fishing boats, the pretty town of Carbet and the Musee Paul Gauguin, which contains several interesting pieces of memorabilia from the artist.

As you take the N2 road out of the city, you will come to St Pierre, which lies just 7 km south of the active Mont Pelee volcano. The initial capital of Martinique, St Pierre was destroyed in 1902, when the volcano erupted wiping out much of the city. Here you can visit a volcano museum as well as see the impressive ruins of an 18th century theatre.

To visit the mountains north of Fort-de-France, take the N3 or the Route de la Trace, which offers a beautiful drive. Along the way you will pass the Jadrin de Balata, which is a stunning botanical garden that is home to more than 200 species of flowers. Visit the Leyritz Plantation in the north of Martinique as well as the Grand Riviere, which is an unspoiled fishing village.

In the south of the island, visit the town of Trois Ilets, which is where Empress Josephine was born. Here you will find a museum, the Musee de la Pagerie, which contains many of the Empress’s childhood memorabilia. Also in the south of Martinique is Pointe du Bout, the most well developed area in the island after Fort-de-France. Home to a yachting marina, there are three large resorts located out here, with the area looking a lot like a mini Las Vegas.

For some peace and quiet visit the pretty fishing villages of Grand Anse and Anse D’Arlet, while on the southern tip of the island visit Les Salines, often referred to as one of the finest beaches Martinique has to offer.