Saint-Pierre

The city of Saint-Pierre or “Little Paris of the West Indies” is located northwest of Martinique. This town is the former administrative, economic and cultural capital of the island. The official creation of the city belongs to Pierre Belain d’Esnambuc, who established the first colony on this territory in 1635.

In 1902, the devastating eruption of the Pelee’s Volcano completely destroyed the town. The burning smoke from the volcano headed towards Saint-Pierre at a speed of 450 miles per hour. The post-eruption temperature was about 1075 degrees. The disaster claimed more than 30,000 lives in a few minutes.

Twenty years after the eruption, the people of Martinique committed to rebuild the city. Today, a large part of Saint-Pierre retains a turn-of-the-century atmosphere. The city’s beach is a testimony to this sad event, with its dozens of underwater wrecks.

L’éruption de la Pelée en 1902

To discover more about Saint-Pierre’s past, the Frank Perret Volcano Museum offers a selection of historical photographs. You can discover the remains and ruins of the city, such as the ruins of the theater, the ruins of the church or those of the prison. Only 30 years ago, Saint-Pierre proudly carried its trophy of City of Art and History in 1990. It would also be interesting to make the ascent of Mount Pelée. The excursion lasts a few hours, before reaching the highest point of Martinique at about 1395 meters above sea level.

Making a stopover in Saint-Pierre is an opportunity to dive into the city’s past, but not only. Discover also the lush nature of the small pearl of the French West Indies, before sailing in the Caribbean Sea.