Cultural tour of Fort-de-France

On arrival at the Cruise Ship Terminal, you'll be a twenty-minute walk from the heart of Fort-de-France with its architecture, stores and food outlets. 

Leaving the Cruise Ship Terminal, you can start your visit at the Bibliothèque Schoelcher. This must-see building is unique thanks to its colonial architecture and its history linked to Victor Schœlcher, the famous abolitionist and initiator of the decree of April 2, 1848, which would mark the end of slavery in France and the colonies.

The library is a 17-minute walk away, giving you plenty of time to explore the city before arriving at the corner of Rue de la Liberté. Designed by French architect Pierre-Henri Picq in the 19th century, the cathedral alone represents  a blend of influences from different cultures and eras that's well worth the detour, if only to contemplate this monument, but also to discover its interior with its wooden shelving layout, containing over 130,000 works of Caribbean and African literature. 

On leaving the Schoelcher library, just walk for about five minutes to discover the Savane, a vast Fort-de-France park of around 5 hectares, otherwise known as the Jardin du Roi. Its original purpose was to house scientific experiments on plants new to the colony. Today, it's the gathering point for a variety of events, including sporting events, the carnival parade, concerts and film screenings. 

You'll also find several small restaurants and snack bars serving a variety of cuisine, as well as benches for taking a break. You can continue your stroll towards the Malecon, which is about a five-minute walk from La Savane and is a popular children's play area, as it's also on the same level as Plage de la Française! 

As your moment of relaxation draws to a close, approach the rue de la Liberté opposite the savannah, take the alley alongside the Hôtel L'Impératrice and come face to face with the Cathédrale Saint-Louis, another edifice remarkable for its architecture, colorful stained-glass windows and impressive bell tower. For the record, this cathedral hasn't always been one, and it's had its share of setbacks. It used to be a church, l'église de Fort-Royal, the former name of Fort-de-France. The church was destroyed by a fire caused by Dutch soldiers attempting to seize the city. It was not until 7 years later that the church was rebuilt.

In 1839, Martinique was hit by an earthquake, forcing the church to be razed to the ground and rebuilt as a place of worship. After 9 years of work, the cathedral opened its doors in 1854 and was consecrated to the bishopric.

In 1890, the cathedral was hit again by a fire that started in a house and quickly spread to the town center. As a result, the cathedral was badly damaged, and to top it all off, during a cyclone, the cathedral roof couldn't withstand the force of the wind and blew away. Henri Picq took the initiative of rebuilding the cathedral with a metal structure to make it more resistant to earthquakes and cyclones. Five years later, the cathedral opened its doors in its Romanesque-Byzantine style, a style that was in full vogue at the time and continues to prevail today. 

The cathedral is open to all seven days a week and offers several masses a day, from Tuesday to Friday. 

If you want to discover local spices, fruit and produce without further ado, head to Fort-de-France's Covered Market! You'll come into direct contact with the merchants, who'll be able to tell you all about the fruits and vegetables, and you'll also be able to take home one or more souvenirs from here, or a Martinique decoration thanks to the craft vendors ! 

If you want a taste of traditional Martinique cuisine, head to one of Fort-de-France's most beautiful streets, Rue Garnier Pagès. Take the opportunity to snap a few photos of the colorful architecture and grounds. No need to walk any further, there are several different types of restaurants on this street, enough to suit everyone's tastes !

After getting your strength back, continue your stroll up to the waterfront, just below the Lumina Tower, to admire and take photos of one of the largest life-size frescoes created by various Martinican street art artists from the Mada Paint collective in September 2023, with the aim of enhancing Martinique's fundamentals through art.

Some angles at certain locations of the fresco allow you to have photos with a 3D effect, so take the time to observe it life-size!

If your day's program goes according to plan and you still have some time to spare before getting back on the boat, I'd recommend ending the day with a stroll through the Jardin de Balata. 

Drive to Pointe Simon, where you'll find various means of locomotion, but the safest and fastest are with private cabs.  In twenty minutes, you'll arrive at the gates of the Jardin de Balata, a botanical garden containing a rich Martinique tropical flora with orchids, tropical plants or even palm trees.

Jean-Phillippe Thoze, the owner of this site, began to build this natural jewel with his personal plant collection, and gradually assembled a collection of tropical essences consisting of many plants such as exotic water lilies, variegated pandanus, hibiscus and many others, enabling it to open its doors to the general public in April 1986. Today, this 2-hectare garden will take you on a journey through all its plants and flowers. 

Finish your day with a spectacular view of the garden : Montagne Pelée.