Fort-de-France lies on the island's west coast at the northern entrance to the large Fort-de-France Bay, at the mouth of the Madame River. The city occupies a narrow plain between the hills and the sea but is accessible by road from all parts of the island.
In 1638, Jacques Duparquet, first governor of Martinique, decided to have Fort Saint Louis built to protect the city against enemy attacks. The fort was soon destroyed, and rebuilt in 1669, when Louis XIV appointed the Marquis of Baas as governor general. Under his orders and those of his successors, particularly the Count of Blénac, the fort was built with a Vauban design.
ATTRACTIONS
Fort Desaix - is a Vauban fort and one of four forts that protects Fort-de-France, the capital of Martinique. The fort was built from 1768 to 1772 and sits on a hill, Morne Garnier, overlooking what was then Fort Royal. Fort Desaix was built in response to the successful British attack on Fort Royal in 1762 and was intended to prevent any future attacker from using Morne Garnier to site cannon that could then bombard Fort Royal from above.
Bibliothèque Schoelcher - One the nicest colonial buildings in town is a library, located next to place de la savane.
Le grand marché - rues Blénac et Isambert. Covered market. edit
Fort-de-France Cathedral - is a Roman Catholic cathedral, and a national monument of France, located in the town of Fort-de-France, capital of Martinique. The architect was the Parisian Pierre-Henri Picq. This is the seventh church to have stood on the site, and although Picq had been commissioned to build a structure that could survive Martinique's plagues of fire, hurricanes and earthquakes, he built it entirely out of wood.
Dillon distillery - A small museum about rhum making in the former distillery Dillon. All the rhum making process has now moved to a new site.
Sacré-Coeur de Balata - a replica of the Montmartre Church in Paris, constructed in 1925 on a cliff surrounded by tropical forest. Open everyday from 8 to noon and 3 to 6.
Jardin de Balata - (10 km away on the road to Morne Rouge). Botanical garden with more than 200 species of plants and flowers. edit
Cascade Absalon, Up on the route de Balata, take a left right after the Balata Gardens. Easily accessible waterfall where you can swim in the water basin. Park the car just after the bridge and watch out on the slippery steps.
The Jardin de Balata - is a private botanical garden located on the Route de Balata about 10 km outside of Fort-de-France, Martinique, France. It is open daily; an admission fee is charged.
A statue commemorating Martinique-born Empress Josephine, the wife of Napoleon, is in the gardens of La Savane. It was vandalized in the 1990s, presumably by individuals who faulted her for supporting the reestablishment of slavery on the island.
Hike to Cascade Didier- Trail is not marked, park next to the power generator almost at the end of the road. Walk down towards the river, cross the bridge and up on the other side you ll find a tunnel, bring a flash light. The 1st waterfall is now a 15 min walk away up the river, it is around 6 meter high and jumping from the top is possible. The 2nd waterfall is another 45 mins up the river and consist of a 25 m drop in a basin where you can swim. Watch out for the green and purple matoutou spider on the way
HOW TO REACH
Most of those traveling to Martinique will enter through Aimé Cesaire International Airport, located in the suburb of Le Lamentin. Several cruise ships also stop in Fort-de-France's harbor.
