Sigthseeing

 

Sigthseeing
Theatre - Saint Pierre - 2022-02-13 11-27-20_2-HDR
culture
LET'S GO
CapNord-Fond-St-Denis Nord Martinique
nature
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Tombolo Sainte-Marie - Nord Martinique
Can’t miss landmarks
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#BeNord CULTURE

The cultural heritage reflects the history and identity of the territory of northern Martinique and its inhabitants. The North is unanimously recognized as the territory concentrating a large part of Martinican memorial heritage. Thus, a good number of emblematic heritage sites are protected, whether domestic, religious, industrial or archaeological.

Saint-Pierre, City of Art and History was a major center of attraction for France in the Caribbean at the time of colonization, it remains an essential landmark of the tourist attractiveness of Martinique in the 21st century.

In addition, the territory’s cultural heritage is rich in culinary, artisanal and artistic know-how. Bèlè, basketry, the traditional manufacture of battery syrup, cassava or even kassaves are good examples.

Fishing with its traditional techniques is no exception and is an integral part of this wealth.

There are also tools for promoting, interpreting and mediating intangible heritage, notably at the Saint-Jacques Fund Cultural Meeting Centre, at the Maison du Bélè or at the Paul Gauguin Interpretation Center in Carbet.

Historical monuments

  • 39 historical monuments (11 classified 28 listed)
  • 15 historical monuments in Saint-Pierre

UNESCO classification

An UNESCO classification process is ongoing for the sites:

  • Mount Pelee
  • Massif of the peaks of Carbet

More infos on PNR Martinique

HISTORY
DISTILLERIES
ARCHEOLOGY
GASTRONOMY
EVENTS

#BeNord Nature

With more than 400 sports facilities, the North of Martinique has a real offer in terms of activities. It is also a remarkable setting for nature activities such as archery, horse riding, climbing, or sliding sports.

Athletes will enjoy the most beautiful panoramas of the island by climbing Mount Pelée or by trying the famous hike of about 15 km which connects the town of Grand-Rivière to that of Le Prêcheur.

They can also go up the Falaise River to see multiple waterfalls including the “Gorges de la Falaise”, accessible with an approved guide.

Beaches

White, ocher or black sand

You will find beaches of black sand of volcanic origin with silver reflections such as the beach of Carbet or that of Anse Couleuvre au Prêcheur.

Other beaches are just as fascinating with their ocher color: Pointe rouge at La Trinité.

Finally, in the northern country the sand can be white like most of the beaches from Tartane to La Trinité or on the islets of Robert.

Sport, surf, plongée, snorkeling

Surfing enthusiasts can face the waves of the Atlantic coast, at Basse-Pointe but especially at Tartane. Anse Bonneville, a white sand beach, is also called the surfers’ beach.

Anse Céron beach is one of the most beautiful diving and snorkeling spots to discover the Albert Falco Regional Marine Nature Reserve.

Mornes

Two remarkable reliefs

MOUNT PELEE

Its dome, the highest point of the island is 1,397 m high, it dominates respectively to the east the Atlantic, to the west the Caribbean Sea and to the north the channel of Dominica.

Very famous for hiking, it represents a precious heritage for Martinique!

THE CARBET PITONS

At an altitude of 1,196 m, its volcanism is extinct and therefore more marked by erosion

Its deep valleys are turned both towards the Caribbean Sea with the Case-Pilote rivers, and towards the Atlantic with the Capot and Lorrain rivers, or towards the center with the Lézarde to irrigate the Lamentin plain before flowing into the bay of Fort-de-France.

Coastlines

Coastlines

In the plural because it is indeed a morphological plurality of coastlines:

The Caribbean coast with the rather low hygrometry of the leeward coasts, with the steep slopes punctuated from Case-Pilote to the Prêcheur by the mouths of the rivers correspond to what is designated in Martinique as the funds sheltering a very “adjusted” coastal urbanization in the tiny plains.

The North-Atlantic coast with the high hygrometry characteristic of the windward coasts, with less marked slopes, however, ends in a slightly indented coastline formed mainly by cliffs exposed directly to the Atlantic swell. The coastal urbanizations are more important there than on the Caribbean coast and mostly far from the mouths of the main rivers whose flows are much higher than those of the rivers on the Caribbean side.

The Central-Atlantic coast, very indented between peninsulas (including the very spectacular peninsula of La Caravelle), bays or harbors (Example of the harbor of Robert) and islets, constitutes a barrier with the Atlantic Ocean.

CAN’T MISS LANDMARKS

Eglise de l’Immaculée Conception

Ajoupa-Bouillon

Mentioned from the 18th century, a true historical monument

  • Cultural visit, open to the public

Habitation Leyritz

Basse-Pointe

Since 1970, all the buildings have been restored and serve as a hotel restaurant in an 8-hectare park. Its Rue Cases-Nègres is currently in the renovation phase.

  • A reopening project is underway

Torgiléo

Bellefontaine

Imposing building in the shape of a boat whose prow points out to sea

  • Visible from  the road that crosses the village

Distillerie Neisson / Centre d’interprétation Paul Gauguin / Zoo / Habitation Latouche

Carbet

Take the Tour: Spirit Tourism, Art, Animals and Culture

  • Cultural visit open to the public

Eglise Notre Dame de l’Assomption

Case-Pilote

A remarkable historical monument dating from the 18th century, the presbytery forms with the church, the cemetery and the garden a typical parish ensemble.

  • Located in Rue Allègre

Saut du Gendarme waterfall

Fonds-Saint-Denis

Clear waterfall of about ten meters, surrounded by a small landscaped pool

  • Located on the small D1 road linking the Route de la Trace to Saint Pierre

Distillerie J.M

Macouba

It is here that the cane cut exclusively on the Habitation Bellevue estate located just above arrives to be gradually transformed into rum.

  • Free visit and tasting every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Habitation Saint-Etienne

Gros-Morne

Since 2015, its garden has been labeled “Remarkable Garden”, it has industrial machinery, an aqueduct that bears witness to the use of hydraulic power and historic cellars.

  • Production of AOC rum / Unique terroir
  • Permanent exhibition and guided tour on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2.30 p.m.

Sainte-Hyacinthe Church / Case à Cassave

Lorrain

Visit the church with its bells, stained glass windows and chandeliers that punctuate the heart of the city then discover the process of transformation of cassava into Kassav

  • Church open to the public
  • Case a Cassave located in Quartier Vallon

Metal bridge

Grand-Rivière

67 meters long and 5.7 meters high, it is the longest and also the highest bridge in Martinique.

  • Road going to Grand-Rivière (D10)

Bellevue viewpoint / Banks of the Lorrain River / Fonds d’Or Bay

Marigot

Picnic and relaxation in the heart of lush countryside at the viewpoint or on the banks of the Lorrain river, then discover the Fonds d’Or bay and its wharf which are an integral part of the history of the factory le Lorrain (1889-1955)

Pitons du Carbet / Attila Forest

Morne-Vert

Observe or face the Pitons du carbet then refresh yourself at the Attila spring, located in the heart of the national forest following the direction of Caplet, a site very popular with walkers

Domaine de l’Emeraude / House of the Volcano

Morne-Rouge

Observe nature, arouse your senses and enrich your knowledge of Mount Pelée

  • Domaine d’émeraude : Route de la Trace
  • House of the Volcano: Avenue Edgar Nestoret (N3)

Ilet la Perle / Habitation Céron and its Zamana

Prêcheur

Îlet La Perle, off Anse Couleuvre is a great spot for scuba diving. The Céron habitation offers a varied park and the oldest tree in Martinique, the famous Zamana, over 350 years old.

White sandy shoals and islets

Robert

10 in total, they are easy to access and to anchor. Great for tanning as well as walking. You can particularly practice swimming, kayaking, windsurfing or kite-surfing, snorkelling or motor boating.

Ruins of the 1902 eruption

Saint-Pierre

The city has many monuments that trace its history (ruins of the theater, the prison, the dungeon of Cyparis, the Bethlehem asylum, etc.) Free visit throughout the city

  • Free visit throughout the city

Ilet Sainte-Marie and its tombolo

Sainte-Marie

The tombolo of Sainte-Marie results from the action of marine hydrodynamic factors. The phenomenon occurs during 4 months of the year, most of the time from January February to April May, the tombolo then makes it possible to reach the islet on foot

Galion sugar factory / Caravelle lighthouse

Trinité
Created during the 18th century by the Du Buc family, the Galion sugar factory is the last sugar factory still in operation in Martinique. The lighthouse commissioned in 1862 and automated since 1970 is located at the top of a basalt peak about 115 m above sea level at the end of the peninsula now a nature reserve.

  • Visit of the Quartier Galion sugar refinery
  • Lighthouse located on the Presqu’ile de la Caravelle hike