Originally called Madinina (“Isle of Flowers”), Martinique retains considerable amounts of forest amidst bustling towns and modern day life. Culturally it is home to a vibrant and independent French Caribbean culture.
In 1902 Mount Pelee’s massive eruption engulfed the capital of Saint Pierre in a pyroclastic cloud which destroyed the city and killed nearly all of its 30,000 inhabitants. It has not erupted since 1932, though it is still considered the most active volcano in the region. The capital was moved to Fort de France afterwards, but a smaller version of Saint Pierre remains today. You can visit the local Musee Vulcanologique with its exhibits about Mount Pelee and the eruption. There are many ruins that you can explore, including the jail cell that incarcerated and protected one of the two survivors. These ruins are Martinique’s top attraction.
Fort de France contains the Fort St. Louis dating back to 1640 which is still serving as a military base. The visually striking Bibliotheque Schoelcher and some colourful public markets are other attractions.
Elsewhere, Point du Bout is the most highly developed resort in Martinique and is a testament to mass tourism. If you escape away a little distance though, you can find more attractive and calming villages such as Grand Anse and Anse d’Arlet. Sun-worshipers will appreciate the beautiful beach of Les Salines on Martinique’s southern end.
Martinique is a good place for a scenic drive, with both the N2 coastal road and the N3 Route de la Trace offering interesting scenery and a number of smaller stops for museums, gardens and plantation estates.
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