Fort-de-France is a commune and the capital of Martinique, an overseas department of France located in the Caribbean. It is also one of the major cities in the Caribbean.
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Overseas region and department | Martinique |
| Government | |
| Mayor (2020–2026) | Didier Laguerre (PPM) |
| Area1 | 44.21 km2 (17.07 sq mi) |
| Population (2017-01-01) | 80,041 |
| Density | 1,800/km2 (4,700/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−04:00 (AST) |
History
Originally named Fort-Royal, the administrative capital of Martinique was over-shadowed by Saint-Pierre, the oldest city in the island, which was renowned for its commercial and cultural vibrancy as “The Paris of the Caribbean”.
The name of Fort-Royal was changed to a short-lived “Fort-La-Republique” during the French Revolution, and finally settled as Fort-de-France sometime in the 19th century. The old name of Fort-Royal is still used today familiarly in its Creole language form of “Foyal”, with the inhabitants of the city being “Foyalais”.
Until 1918, when its commercial growth began, Fort-de-France had an inadequate water supply, was partly surrounded by swamps, and was notorious for yellow fever. Now the swamps are drained to make room for extensive suburbs.
Geography
Fort-de-France, also known as the Fort of France, lies on Martinique’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.
Climate
Fort-de-France has a tropical rainforest climate, characterised by very warm to hot and humid weather year-round. The wettest months are from July to November when hurricanes are a frequent threat, although substantial rainfall occurs in all months. The hottest month on average is September, and the coldest month on average is February.
Main sights
In addition to Fort Saint Louis, there are three other forts:
- Fort Desaix
- Fort Tartenson
- Fort Gerbault
Other sites of interest include:
- Place de la Savane
- Schoelcher Library
- Jardin de Balata, a botanical garden
- Sacré-Cœur de Balata Church, a replica of the parisian Montmartre Church lodged on a cliff surrounded by tropical forest
- Fort-de-France Cathedral
A statue commemorating Martinique-born Empress Josephine, the wife of Napoleon, is in the gardens of La Savane.
Transport
Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport is located in a suburb outside Fort-de-France and is accessible via the A1 autoroute.
