We have been to Fort-de-France 3 times over the years.
The first time was back in the 80's. We did an excursion offered by Cunard Countess called La Tropical. There were no tour buses -- 4 people to a cab and the cab drivers didn't speak any English. We were each given a program discribing in English where all we were going and what we would be seeing. They were listed from A to J and each time we got to a place, our drive would say A and it was up to us to read the description.
A - Fort-de-france -- here we learned that the town began to be become important when the volcano Mount Pele eliminated Saint Pierre in 1902. The town was victim to several catastrophies: in 1839 there was an earthquake; in 1890 it was ravaged by a fire; and in 1891, it was devastated by a hurricane.
B - Schoelcher - an agglomeration in full extension. Its quarters: Petit Paradis, Plateau Fofo, the Cite Saint-Georges, housing moderate rents, the Hotel of the Bateliere and the Center of the University.
C - Case Pilote -- it is one of the oldest townships in the island. It's church which was at first only a modest chapel, dates from the creation of the parish between 1640 and 1645.
D - Bellefontaine - the population of this village is mostly composed of fishermen. It is one of the coastal villages in the western part of the island and is the most typical in the West Indies. Numerous artists have lived there, among them being MARILLAC, who died there.
E - Carbet -- it is also a fishing village located at the base of the Pitons.
F - Saint Pierre -- in 1635, Belain D'Esnambuc landed at the estuary of the river Roxelane, and concluded an agreement with the Carib inhabitants. We learned that in 1685 after violent combats the last of the Caribs dies leaving a curse behind them "The mountain of fire will wreak vengeance of us". In 1792 was the first eruption. In 1851 there was a commission of inquiry about the volcano's activity and the enquiry was favorable. In 1901 there was a grave disquiet, but a partial electiob was scheduled and the eletor's would not abandon their town.
May 8th 1902: this was the day of mourning. After several weeks of rains of ashes, of flows of lava, it was the castrophy. The whole town and its environs were devastated over an area of 60 square kilometers, 30,000 inhabitants perished, asphyxiated and cabonised, included the mayor and the governor of the island. One solitary person escaped: a man named Cyparis who had been put in an underground dungeon in prison. Of all the places on the island -- this we enjoyed seeing the most!!
G - Morne Rouge -- it is a small village that lies at the foot of Mount Pele. It was destroyed by the cloud of hot gas from the volcano in August 1902.
H - La Trace Road -- just a road!!
I - Balata -- on the heights of Fort-de-France the Basilica of the Sacred Heart buit in 1928 and modelled on the Sacred Heart Basilica o Montmartre, Paris, entirely surrounded by houses of creole architecture, is a peleinage site, to which an enormous crowd drawn from the whole island, takes part every year in the Feast of the Sacred Heart on June 13th.
J - Didier -- formerly consisted of large houses buried in the middle of the park. Since then other homes have been buit on top of and around the area.
The other times that we have been to Martinique we have just walked around the town and the fort since the cruise ships dock right in this area.
We've seen E - Carbet - small fishing village from a water view when on a boat going on a beach excursion. Did you actually get to walk around there? I'd like to do that some day ....
Enjoyed the detailed report. I just posted on the visited thread. My comments were very general, guess I just don't get into all the specifics although I do enjoying hearing about them as we tour, I just don't remember after.
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