Ideally located at the centre of Guadeloupe, where Basse-Terre meets Grande-Terre, Pointe-à-Pitre, the economic capital of the Guadeloupe archipelago, is well worth a visit, if only for its typical streets, two museums and deliciously colourful markets!
The unmissable and picturesque market at Darse, which takes place every morning from Monday to Saturday, is sure to impress you with its fresh fish sold directly by the fishermen, and its wonderful stalls full of exotic fruits and vegetables. A colourful, flavourful experience that's sure to enchant your taste buds! To buy more Creole specialities, head to the famous central market, also known as Saint-Antoine market, which you can reach easily by walking along Rue Saint-John Perse. Based in a beautiful metal-framed market hall that is a listed Historic Monument, this tourist-friendly market has many colourful stalls, all loaded with spices, exotic jams and punch, with the traders in traditional madras dress offering a warm welcome. If you come in August, you can attend the cooks' festival. After a big mass in honour of Saint Laurent, patron saint of cooks, the latter parade through the city in traditional costume and offer tastings of local specialities!
Then head towards the vast Place de la Victoire, dotted with royal palms, which is named after the triumph of the sans-culottes and the end of slavery. You will find a tourist office located in a building in the neoclassical colonial style, a bandstand built in 1930, and the statues of Governors Félix Éboué and Charles Victor Frébault... Not far away, the Church of St-Peter-and-St-Paul, a listed Historic Monument, has a delightful yellow and white façade. Once inside, you can admire a metal- framed roof and a Carrara marble altar from the 19th century. As for exotic plant-lovers, they should be sure to go and see the charming little flower market held every morning on the church square!
On the cultural side, you have the choice between the Schoelcher Museum and the Saint-John Perse Museum. Housed in a splendid metal- framed building, the latter has a permanent exhibition on the life of the Pointois poet and diplomat Alexis Leger, aka Saint-John Perse, as well as Creole costumes. The Schoelcher Museum, located in an elegant classical building, exhibits a collection of objects that belonged to the French politician Victor Schoelcher, a great defender of human rights and the abolition of slavery.
Before leaving for other areas of Guadeloupe, you simply must pay a visit to Bas-du-Fort marina and its harbour. Indeed, this area, which is very lively at night, is the final destination of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, a famous solo transatlantic race which takes place every four years in November.
French commune, Pointe-à-Pitre is in the department of Guadeloupe. One called Lapwent in Creole, is populated by more than 16 000 people and serves as a sub-prefecture of the department overseas territories. Called Port de la Liberté in the French Revolution, the Guadeloupe city is located west of Grande-Terre, in the center of Guadeloupe. Located by the sea, the city of Pointe-à-Pitre offers a beautiful coastline as well as a cruise port.
The city dates back to the British occupation of the island in the middle of the eighteenth century, but with the return of French that she began to expand rapidly. Pointe-à-Pitre this still an important cultural and historical heritage which reflects the importance of the city since its creation. in particular you can admire many colonial monuments, and visit museums on the history of Guadeloupe and the Caribbean.
Colorful and lively, the city of Pointe-à-Pitre is a true festival of life and gaiety that attracts tourists from around the world.
Rich and full of colors, the town of Pointe-à-Pitre is a real enchantment to discover, particularly thanks to its numerous sites classified as Historic Monuments.
The Schoelcher museum, named after the famous journalist and politician who defended the definitive abolition of slavery in France, has been partially listed as a Historic Monument. Housed in an old villa dating from 1883, the museum houses a collection of antique sculptures as well as porcelain objects which Victor Schoelcher donated to Guadeloupe. You can also discover deposits from the Louvre Museum, as well as objects linked to slavery.
Not far away, the Saint-John Perse museum is also worth lingering for a few moments. Located in the historic district of Pointe-à-Pitre, it presents traditional Creole costumes, as well as objects testifying to the life of the writer Saint-John Perse. The museum, labeled Musée de France and Maison des Illustres, is located in a metal and brick building built in 1880. It is a former residential house. The latter has been partly classified as a Historic Monument.
Listed as a Historic Monument, the L'Herminier pavilion was built at the end of the 19th century to house the Guadeloupe Chamber of Agriculture. The building has today become a museum presenting several botanical and zoological collections.
The Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul church was built at the beginning of the 19th century and classified as a Historic Monument in 1978. It has a very beautiful yellow colonial-style facade.
The ACTe Memorial, or Caribbean Center for Expression and Memory of the Trade and Slavery, is located on the port of Pointe-à-Pitre in a former sugar factory. Inaugurated in 2015, it presents the history of slavery from Antiquity to the present day.
While strolling through the streets of fire station.
Pride of the city, the Place de la Victoire welcomes within it, the tourist office in neo-classical colonial style, a bandstand, the statues of Félix Eboué or General Charles Victor Frébault, or even the City Pavilion.
Classified as a Historic Monument, the spice market hall was built at the end of the 19th century. It is a great place to live in Pointe-à-Pitre welcoming fragrant and colorful stalls all week long.
Don't hesitate to take a guided tour of the city in an electric "tuk-tuk" which allows you to have a historical and artistic look at this rapidly changing city.
If you want to buy fish, the Lauricisque fish market is open every morning, or the Darse fish market, opposite the Place de la Victoire in the center of Pointe-à-Pitre.
Pointe-à-Pitre offers throughout the year an important cultural activity, as well as interesting commemorations.
Several markets are held in the streets of Pointe-à-Pitre each week. Maraîchers The market is held every day except Sunday at different times, that of local art crafts takes place every day from 6am to 14:30, the flowers also. Central Market or Spice Market is open Monday to Saturday, and Sabin Ducadosse market is held Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday morning. A Darse market for fruit and vegetables is open Monday to Saturday, and an area reserved for the sale of junk is open Monday to Saturday morning.
The Pointe-à-Pitre carnival settled in January with parades, costume contests and many other activities.
The time of Poets held in March and offers views of poems, readings or exhibitions.
Every May 28, the city celebrates the Delgrès commemorations, Ignace and Solitude in tribute to the heroes of the struggle against slavery.
Every last Saturday of the month, the city offers its Musicales with different shows.
In June, the trophy Arts Pointois held annually to reward young talent.
July 21 organized a ceremony in tribute to Victor Schoelcher and Felix Eboue, the great abolitionist men.
