Hostels in FORT DE FRANCE, MARTINIQUE

Fort De France – Captivating Capital of Martinique

For De France is the capital and largest city of Martinique. Its monuments, captivating streets and architecture make it one of the most favoured Caribbean tourist destinations.

History
The city was established between 1638 and 1669 with the name of Fort Saint Louis. Its purpose was to provide shield against attackers. From the day of its establishment to the 19th century, the city was rechristened several times with the names of Fort Royal, Fort-la-Republique and finally Fort-de-France.

The city gained importance after Saint Pierre, Martinique’s oldest city then, was destroyed by Mount Pelee’s volcanic eruption in 1902, almost wiping out all its inhabitants. Fort-de-France has also had to face several destructive cyclones, earthquakes and fires, especially in the 19th century.

Popular Places and Attractions
The Saint Louis Cathedral is the most noted monument of the city along with the Schoelcher Library. The cathedral has been destroyed and reclaimed several times. Its stained glasses clearly recite the city’s history. More than 130000 books are available in Schoelcher Library. The library’s building resembles a Pagoda when it gets lit up at night. This Henri Picq architecture was transported from Paris to Fort-de-France by boat in the late 19th century.

The Departmental Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology contains more than 1500 parts belonging to pre-colonization Martinique. Some other popular attractions in the city are Fort Saint Louis, Riviere Madame and its bustling fish markets, the statue of Victor Schoelcher at the Justice Palace, the forts Gerbault, Desaix and Tartenson, Cascade Absalon’s waterfall, Dillon Distillery’s Rum Museum, botanical gardens of Jardin de Balata and La Savane’s gardens featuring the statue of Napoleon’s wife Josephine who was also born in Martinique.

Getting Around
Rented cars, taxis, boats, ferries, buses and mopeds are the various kinds of transport available for getting around Fort De France with cars being the most popular mode, a good guide is to have some change handy to pay for their travel.

Places for Entertainment
Information about the city’s entertainment avenues can be dug from a guide called Choubouloute. City’s nightspots are usually filled with world music, karaoke, blues, pulsating Zouk and soft jazz rhythms. French pop, Brazilian and Caribbean music is also popular in the city’s piano bars and theatre cafes. Steel band and limbo dancing performances are often arranged by resorts.

SERMAC, July’s play and dance festival and CMAC’s December festival featuring plays, films, concerts and documentaries are the major events of the city. Nightclubs, discos, gambling casinos, restaurants and bars are some other places for entertainment.

Accommodation
Budget hotels, apartments, youth hostels, bed and breakfast, guesthouse, rented houses, resorts, villas and inns are available in the city to suit accommodation requirements of all budgets.

Currency
The Euro is the currency adopted in Martinique as it is an overseas French department, check the news and internet for the latest exchange rates. MasterCard, Visa and credit cards are mostly accepted in the city but the acceptability of U.S Dollars, traveller’s cheques and American Express is less.

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