Fort-de-France, Martinique

Balata Church

The Balata Church was built in 1928. It is located among beautiful artificial ponds with water lilies and lilies in the Jardin-Balata Botanical Garden, 10 kilometers from Fort-de-France. The church is a copy of the French basilica Sacré-Cœur. This wonderful building has a rectangular shape with an odd number of naves. The church’s dome is shaped like a silhouette of the basilica. The church is a bright representative of the Romanesque-Byzantine style. The church façade is adorned with sculpture. Inside, the sanctuary features mosaics and original stained-glass windows with biblical themes. The pulpit is decorated with a panel depicting scenes of worship of the Sacred Heart of Christ.

Fort St. Louis

Fort Saint-Louis was built between 1638 and 1672 at the end of Fort-de-France Bay, on a rocky peninsula, to protect ships. The fort’s former names-Fort-Royal and Fort-de-la-Republic-reflect the fact that for a long time it served as an impregnable fortress on the route of the English. Fort Saint-Louis is included in the cultural heritage list of France. Today, Fort Saint-Louis is under the authority of the navies and air forces of the Caribbean countries; nevertheless, regular guided tours are held across its grounds, introducing visitors to the centuries-old history of the fort and the island. On the fort’s premises, you can see unusual residents-a whole colony of green iguanas.

The Sholshers Library

The beautiful library of Victor Schœlcher with a Byzantine-style dome, founded in 1887, houses a collection of 130,000 books, including those published in the Caribbean basin. The original building was erected at the World’s Fair in Paris in 1889. After that, the structure was dismantled and transported to Martinique, to the city of Fort-de-France. The library is named in honor of the famous abolitionist Victor Schœlcher. Among the books is Schœlcher’s entire personal library, which he bequeathed to the island’s residents after his death.

St. Louis Cathedral

The cathedral was built in 1895 and was rebuilt seven times because tsunamis often struck Martinique and earthquakes occurred. However, the latest version of the building’s structure successfully passed the strength test when a severe tsunami hit the island in 2007 and almost all buildings were destroyed. The cathedral withstood the elements and was left standing with almost complete integrity. The foundation of the cathedral is made of metal. The monastery building is steep-roofed with certain elements of Gothic architecture; it is located next to exotic plants and palm trees. The view of this beauty is simply delightful. Inside the cathedral, there is a large organ, so organ music can be heard there quite often.

Balata Botanical Garden

It is precisely thanks to this wonderful place that the island is often called the island of flowers. The garden was created by the caring hands of a landscape designer and designer Jean-Philippe Thoze over the course of 20 years. In the Balata Botanical Garden you can see both traditional European trees, shrubs and flowers - pines, hibiscus, orchids - and exotic plants - reeds, cordylines and dragon trees. The garden also features man-made ponds where water lilies and lilies grow. In total, there are more than three thousand plants in the garden. Balata Gardens are a popular destination among tourists thanks to their beautiful landscapes.

Beaches

The coastal area of the Fort-de-France Bay, on the shore of which sits the city and port of the same name, delights with the clarity and beauty of sea water that ebbs in turquoise hues. And the beaches seem as if they were created both for sweet idleness and for diving or fishing. An added advantage of the local beaches is their excellent infrastructure. Near the city of Saint-Pierre there is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island - the Anse Céron Beach. It is luxurious and unique. Formed as a result of the eruption of Mount Pelée, the beach is covered with volcanic sand. Tourists come here not only to enjoy the black volcanic sand, but also to try windsurfing and, of course, to jump from the scenic rock of the Pearl Island.

Lake Etang de Salin

Etang des Salines Lake is located in the far south of the island of Martinique. The water in this body of water is salty and lies just 600 meters from the Caribbean Sea coastline. The climate here is quite dry and sunny, even on winter days. While clouds gather over the entire island, the south is sunny and warm. No matter the season, there are plenty of tourists here. They come to the white sandy shores to relax and escape their worries and problems. You can simply sunbathe here, or take up active sports, including diving, as the St. Lucia Channel is famous for its rich underwater world.

Waterfalls on the Alma River

Martinique has breathtaking nature. Amazing forests, quiet bays and clean beaches are what awaits the island’s guests. One of the attractions is the cascade of waterfalls on the Alma mountain river. The water in the river is very clean, so they raise trout in the Alma. And the view of Alma’s crystal-clear falling water among stepped mountains is truly breathtaking. In addition, numerous romantic legends are associated with the waterfalls.

Rout-de-la-Trasse Trail

The winding Route de la Trace runs northwest from Fort-de-France. Walking along the Jesuits’ trail, you can reach the Balata Botanical Garden, where you can delight in fluttering hummingbirds, exotic flowers, and plants. There is also the Balata Church here-a replica of Paris’s Sacré-Cœur. Many are struck by the beauty of the local mountain river Alma. Between imposing volcanic formations, the Route de la Trace meanders, leading to the volcanic outcrop Piton du Carbet. The trekking route along the tourist road Route de la Trace, which passes through palm and fern thickets, will leave you with a pleasant impression of a holiday on the island.

Mount Pelée Volcano

Mount Pelée, also known as the “Bald Mountain,” gained popularity thanks to its tragic history. Already in the 18th century, the islanders heard underground tremors and a powerful rumble; columns of flame appeared above the crater several times. But then the volcano calmed down. The disaster occurred in the spring of 1902. Volcanic gas that burst to the surface, as well as hot masses of ash and stones, did their work: they destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre in just minutes, and the ships moored in the harbor were set on fire. Flourishing Saint-Pierre-“the Paris of the Antilles”-lay in ruins; as a result of the catastrophe, it lost its status as the capital. A Museum of Volcanology is now open in the city, and in the surrounding area there are many beautiful beaches, one of which has volcanic origins.

Saint-Pierre and the rum distillery

The former capital of Martinique, the charming town of Saint-Pierre, almost completely destroyed during the terrible eruption of Mount Pelée in 1902 and rebuilt again, is truly fascinating. On this excursion, you will take a stroll through its streets and visit a small volcanology museum, where the history of the tragic event is told. After that, you will enjoy a tour of the rum distillery located on the slopes of Mount Pelée. Here you will learn everything about rum production, be able to taste the local drink, and enjoy breathtaking views from the volcano. To wrap up the program, you will be treated to amazing panoramic views of Fort-de-France from the Balata church.

Fort-de-France Sightseeing Tour

During the excursion, you will see the historical districts of the island’s capital and learn about its cultural heritage. You can look forward to an exciting walk through beautiful streets lined with colonial and Creole-style houses, as well as seeing the city’s main architectural attractions-Fort St. Louis, the cathedral, the courthouse building, the Schœlcher library, and other interesting sites. At the end of the excursion, there will be free time for you to explore the city on your own and buy souvenirs.

You can view a more detailed list of excursions and their prices after booking your cruise in your “Client Personal Account”.