Destroyed on several occasions by the natural elements and fires, Fort de France offers a relatively recent inheritance. Thus, the two more attaching monuments of the city, the Schoelcher Library and the Saint-Louis Cathedral are typical metal architecture style which marked the end of the XIX century.
Schoelcher Library
With its coloured cupola and its frontages, the Schoelcher library is undoubtedly the most beautiful monument of the city. Built in the fields of the architect Henri Picq, it was initially presented at the World Fair of 1889 in Paris, before being dismounted and being transported by boat to Fort-de-France. Intended to accomodate the collection of books offered by the abolitionist Victor Schoelcher, for a free access of each one to the culture, the library proposes today a bottom of 130000 books and remains open to all. A night lighting particularly emphasizes the structure of the building which then resembles a pagoda.
Saint-Louis Cathedral
Built in 1671, the Saint-Louis Cathedral does not escape the destiny animated from the city. Set fire to by the soldiers of Ruyter, it is destroyed on several occasions (earthquake of 1839; set fire to of 1890; cyclone of 1891; earthquake of 1953). The current building was almost entirely rebuilt in 1978 in its version end XIX century due to Henri Picq, the architect of the Schoelcher Library. The interior will surprise you by his astonishing clearness. Do not fail to throw an eye with Large the Organ and the stained glasses which recall the history of the city.
Fort Saint-Louis
Built in 1638 at the beginning of colonization, Fort Saint-Louis took its current aspect at the XVIII century. Dominating the peninsula which bars the access to Bay of the Carenage, it made it possible to push back the attempts at invasion of Ruyter in 1674 and the admiral Rodney in 1759. 3 years later, in 1762, its imposing walls were not to him of any help, when English seized the neighbouring heights to bombard it. Its strategic value seriously reduced by progress of the modern armament, Fort Saint-Louis was gradually given up, until being transformed into Zoo during the XIX century. Property of the National Navy, the Fort, military base in activity, is opened to the public at the time of guided tours..
Departmental museum of Archaeology and Prehistory
The museum makes it possible to discover Martinique of before colonization. Its 1500 parts, resulting from private collections and recent archaeological excavations, recall the history of the island of - 4000 before JC until the arrival of the first colonists.
Metal Architecture
Girl of the industrial revolution of the XIX century, metal architecture gains a great success in Europe and soon in the Antilles. Before very practical, it makes it possible to build solid buildings ready to resist the attacks of the cyclones or the jolts of the earthquakes. In Martinique, the town of Fort-de-France devastated by the terrible fire of 1890 then completed by the cyclone of 1891 will be used as ground of experimentation. The architect Henri Picq raises the cathedral and builds the Schoelcher Library. The majority of the markets of the island then are modernized and equipped with a metal skeleton.
Victor
Schoelcher (1804-1893)
Son of a parisian porcelain maker, Victor Schoelcher militates as of his youth for the emancipation of the black people and the abolition of the death penalty. Become under-secretary of State to the Navy and the Colonies at the time of the revolution of 1848, he signs on April 27, 1848 the final decree of abolition of slavery. An animated political career leads it to become appointed of the Guadeloupe in 1849, then senator after 1870. During all these years, he will militate amongst other things for a free access of each one to the culture. (See Schoelcher Library).
With its coloured cupola and its frontages, the Schoelcher library is undoubtedly the most beautiful monument of the city. Built in the fields of the architect Henri Picq, it was initially presented at the World Fair of 1889 in Paris, before being dismounted and being transported by boat to Fort-de-France. Intended to accomodate the collection of books offered by the abolitionist Victor Schoelcher, for a free access of each one to the culture, the library proposes today a bottom of 130000 books and remains open to all. A night lighting particularly emphasizes the structure of the building which then resembles a pagoda.
Built in 1671, the Saint-Louis Cathedral does not escape the destiny animated from the city. Set fire to by the soldiers of Ruyter, it is destroyed on several occasions (earthquake of 1839; set fire to of 1890; cyclone of 1891; earthquake of 1953). The current building was almost entirely rebuilt in 1978 in its version end XIX century due to Henri Picq, the architect of the Schoelcher Library. The interior will surprise you by his astonishing clearness. Do not fail to throw an eye with Large the Organ and the stained glasses which recall the history of the city.
French Version