While arriving by the coastal road which skirts the Caribbean sea, you enter Saint-Pierre by the district of Mouillage. Park your vehicle close to the edge of sea and start your visit with feet (the city is small). Or, benefit from Cyparis Express, a small touristic train which will carry out you site in site.
The Theater
Built at the end of the XVIII century on the model of the large theatre of Bordeaux, the theatre of Saint-Pierre testifies to the richness of the city and its cultural life. Spectacles, concerts are given there by local troops or of France. It is also used as place of meeting. For the politically agitated period which follows the abolition of slavery in 1848, from many speakers come to meet the public. Heavily overdrawn, the theatre is closed in 1901. One year before the eruption. It remains about it today, a splendid staircase, and the vestiges of the cabins of the floor and scene.
The Dungeon of Cyparis
Just behind the theatre, this finds the dungeon entirely intact of the old prison. It is there that four days after the catastrophe the rescuers heard the desperate calls of Cyparis and helped him. Imprisoned following a brawl, the single one surviving of Saint-Pierre owes the life with the heavy stone walls of the dungeon, and with its orientation, back with Mount-Pelé, which protected it from the volcanic cloud. Seriously burned, Cyparis is enroled by the American circus Barnum, to be shown like a phenomenon of fair. (Some question this version of the history. See framed).
The Trade Houses
Vis-a-vis the sea the ruins of old establishments of trade are in which the multiple goods were stored which forwarded by the harbour of Saint-Pierre. Partly protected by the Battery from Estnoz at the time of the eruption, the walls were not puffed up by the volcanic cloud and are still visible today. It is here that the circuit of Cyparis Express starts.
The Monte-au-Ciel Street
While crossing the river Roxelane by the Stone Bridge, single rescapé building of the eruption, you reach the District of the Fort. It is here, between the ruins of the old church and Chefferie of the Genie, that are the sites more attaching city. The vestiges of the Monte-au-Ciel street, in particular, will not fail to charm you. This old lane in staircase climbs with hillside, the heights of the north of the city. Bordered by houses and small investment properties, of which there remain only sections of wall, it is known at the time to be a place particularly animated, appreciated sailors, many dockers and soldiers to survey the district. (see framed). Cleared and restored in 1991 by a team of archaeologist, it testifies with the street Levassor, of the standard of living and of comfort reached by the town of Saint-Pierre, the ground is paved, of the standard lamps ensure the street lighting, of broad gutters worn water and the cloudburst of the tropical rains evacuate.
The Colonial House of Health
The street Levassor enables you to join, to a few hundred meters, the ruins of the Colonial House of Health. Built in 1839, the private hospital is the first psychiatric hospital of the Antilles. The sisters of Saint-Paul who direct it employ to look after the patients, an innovative method: hydrotherapy. The patient is plunged in fresh water baths coming from the sources of Mount-Pelé, attached to have a strong shower, then shut up in his cell. Brutal treatment, but in progress, compared with the Middle Ages, where the doctors incised you the brain-pan, in the search of a stone, "stone of the madness", supposed to cause your disease.
Chefferie of the Genius
Just opposite to the Colonial House of Health, are the buildings of old Chefferie of the Genius. The men in charge with the construction and the maintenance of the civil works and soldiers had established their districts there and there stored their material. The site was released recently (1987) by archaeologists who continue their work still today. The principal building was completely restored.
Church of the Fort
Old Church of the Fort, overhanging the sea, remains only one heap of ruins invaded by insane grasses. The foundations are still visible, with the capitals and the columns reversed strew the ground and testify to violence of the explosion. Construction was solid, but was not of any help to many faithful which had met there, frightened by the first signs of volcanic activity, praying day and night for their safety.
The Cathedral and Mouillage's Cemetery
Many of other inhabitants of the city died, surprised in their prayers, in the medium of the ruins of the cathedral on fire. From the building was rebuilt with identical (1924) thanks to the financial contribution of Victor Depaz. Behind the cathedral, the large cemetery of Mouillage and its ossuary is where the skins of the victims of the eruption were gathered.
Cyparis. Survivor or inveterate liar?
Cyparis is regarded to be the only survivor of the catastrophe of Saint-Pierre. Prisoner, protected by his dungeon, he would have escaped with the massacre. Some, whose journalist of "Petit Paris" newspaper dispatched on the spot after the eruption, do not believe in the version of the man miraculously saved of the disaster. That Cyparis could survive the heat released by the volcanic cloud then at four days without food or drink, seems impossible to them. They lean rather for the thesis of a plunderer surprised in its petty thieving, inventing this tale to be cleared. The President of the Court of Appeal will put an end to this polemic by confirming that Cyparis was well locked up in its dungeon in the night from the 7 to May 8.
Monte au Ciel Street :
"There, had fun angrily, the rabble, the sailors and the soldiers of passage in the city. They were devoted to it to appalling orgies, with bacchanales impossible to describe. The ball usually finished by formidable brawls, combat with blow of cudgels, glasses and bottles! Very dangerous during the night of Saturday, the top of this street!"
Salvina, "Saint-Pierre : La Venise tropicale (1870-1902)"
Musée Volcanologique Franck-A.Perret
Created in 1932 by the American volcanologist Franck-A.Perret, the small volcanologic museum presents its collections of photographs on Saint-Pierre before and after the eruption, as well as a beautiful series of objects exhumed of ashes. You will see there in particular the old bell (the bumblebee) of the cathedral, broken by the explosion and distorted by heat.
Victor Hugo Street. Open everyday from 10H to 17H. Price : 2 €. Tel
: 05-96-78-15-16.
Built at the end of the XVIII century on the model of the large theatre of Bordeaux, the theatre of Saint-Pierre testifies to the richness of the city and its cultural life. Spectacles, concerts are given there by local troops or of France. It is also used as place of meeting. For the politically agitated period which follows the abolition of slavery in 1848, from many speakers come to meet the public. Heavily overdrawn, the theatre is closed in 1901. One year before the eruption. It remains about it today, a splendid staircase, and the vestiges of the cabins of the floor and scene.
Just behind the theatre, this finds the dungeon entirely intact of the old prison. It is there that four days after the catastrophe the rescuers heard the desperate calls of Cyparis and helped him. Imprisoned following a brawl, the single one surviving of Saint-Pierre owes the life with the heavy stone walls of the dungeon, and with its orientation, back with Mount-Pelé, which protected it from the volcanic cloud. Seriously burned, Cyparis is enroled by the American circus Barnum, to be shown like a phenomenon of fair. (Some question this version of the history. See framed).
Vis-a-vis the sea the ruins of old establishments of trade are in which the multiple goods were stored which forwarded by the harbour of Saint-Pierre. Partly protected by the Battery from Estnoz at the time of the eruption, the walls were not puffed up by the volcanic cloud and are still visible today. It is here that the circuit of Cyparis Express starts.
While crossing the river Roxelane by the Stone Bridge, single rescapé building of the eruption, you reach the District of the Fort. It is here, between the ruins of the old church and Chefferie of the Genie, that are the sites more attaching city. The vestiges of the Monte-au-Ciel street, in particular, will not fail to charm you. This old lane in staircase climbs with hillside, the heights of the north of the city. Bordered by houses and small investment properties, of which there remain only sections of wall, it is known at the time to be a place particularly animated, appreciated sailors, many dockers and soldiers to survey the district. (see framed). Cleared and restored in 1991 by a team of archaeologist, it testifies with the street Levassor, of the standard of living and of comfort reached by the town of Saint-Pierre, the ground is paved, of the standard lamps ensure the street lighting, of broad gutters worn water and the cloudburst of the tropical rains evacuate.
The street Levassor enables you to join, to a few hundred meters, the ruins of the Colonial House of Health. Built in 1839, the private hospital is the first psychiatric hospital of the Antilles. The sisters of Saint-Paul who direct it employ to look after the patients, an innovative method: hydrotherapy. The patient is plunged in fresh water baths coming from the sources of Mount-Pelé, attached to have a strong shower, then shut up in his cell. Brutal treatment, but in progress, compared with the Middle Ages, where the doctors incised you the brain-pan, in the search of a stone, "stone of the madness", supposed to cause your disease.
Just opposite to the Colonial House of Health, are the buildings of old Chefferie of the Genius. The men in charge with the construction and the maintenance of the civil works and soldiers had established their districts there and there stored their material. The site was released recently (1987) by archaeologists who continue their work still today. The principal building was completely restored.
Old Church of the Fort, overhanging the sea, remains only one heap of ruins invaded by insane grasses. The foundations are still visible, with the capitals and the columns reversed strew the ground and testify to violence of the explosion. Construction was solid, but was not of any help to many faithful which had met there, frightened by the first signs of volcanic activity, praying day and night for their safety.
Many of other inhabitants of the city died, surprised in their prayers, in the medium of the ruins of the cathedral on fire. From the building was rebuilt with identical (1924) thanks to the financial contribution of Victor Depaz. Behind the cathedral, the large cemetery of Mouillage and its ossuary is where the skins of the victims of the eruption were gathered.
French Version