Martinique is a small and alluring Island in the Eastern Caribbean and is an overseas department of France. The island has a rich cultural heritage, several unspoiled beaches, rugged geography and many unique attractions that makes Martinique the perfect vacation destination for the discerning traveller who wants to explore and have new experiences. We will highlight the history of this beautiful island and some of the main attractions that should not be missed when you visit.

History of Martinique

Martinique was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502 on his 4th voyage to the Caribbean. The island was however claimed by the French in 1635 and developed into a striving sugar-producing colony of France. The island was briefly seized by the British between 1794 and 1845, which was a period of instability in France with the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars consuming the majority of French resources, which gave the British an opening which they gleefully seized. The island was however handed back to the French in 1845 and has remained a territory of France since. Martinique also suffered one of the worst volcanic disasters in modern history when the Mt. Pelee volcano erupted in 1902, killing over 30,000 people in the bustling city of Saint-Pierre, which at the time was the capital of the island and most developed city in the Eastern Caribbean. When you visit Martinique, you should take some time out to learn about the interesting history of the island; you will be fascinated if you do!

Unique attractions in Martinique

Martinique offers some of the unique attractions in the Caribbean and some of the experiences not to miss when you visit include; touring the old city of Saint-Pierre, visiting at least one of the rum distilleries on the island, hiking to Mount Pelée and visiting the Musee de la Pagerie.

Touring the Old City of Saint-Pierre

When you do the tour of the old city of Saint-Pierre, you will see the ruins of historic buildings such as the grand theatre and the prison cell that hosted the sole survivor of the volcanic eruption. Your Tour Guide will also give you details about the rise and fall of the town. Touring the town of Saint-Pierre is a unique experience that will give you a new perspective and appreciation for the island of Martinique.

Saint-Pierre

Visiting Rum Distilleries

Martinique has always been a top rum producing destination over the years because of the widescale cultivation of sugar cane. Today, any visit to Martinique without experiencing at least one of the at least twelve rum distilleries on the island would not be complete! When you do a rum distillery tour, you will learn about the stages of rum production, history of rum production on the island and of course you will get to taste the unique rum types available on the island.

Hiking to Mount Pelée

The Mount Pelée Volcano is one of the most unique things about Martinique, and when you visit the island, you will get the opportunity to hike to Mount Pelée! You can hike to Mount Pelée via the Aileron route, which is a two and a half hour hike with several well-marked trails. This is a relatively easy hike that can be done by most people.

Mount Pelée

Musee de la Pagerie

The Musee de la Pagerie is the birthplace of Marie Joseph Rose Tascher de la Pagerie who was a former wife of Napoleon Bonaparte and a controversial figure in Martinique history. She is believed to be instrumental in the reintroduction of slavery on the island in 1802 and well known for her mesmerising beauty and ability to seduce men to get what she wanted. The Musee de la Pagerie is home to some of her child artefacts and furniture and is a great place to visit to learn about the life of Marie Joseph Rose Tascher de la Pagerie.

Musee de la Pagerie