Welcome to Saint Martin, my 16TH Territory out of a global total of 71. After my blog photos below are the key statistics, brief history and interesting facts about this destination.
Today we made our second and final return to the twin-territory single island of Sint Maarten (Dutch) and Saint Martin (French) to visit the later 60% having visited the Dutch side in Post 3.
Another first-off-the-ship but this time at the record time of 725am. Plenty of time to walk to our car hire place. Another record car hire departure of 830am gave us extra time to explore the French side of this very attractive island. The French side is certainly more posh in terms of homes, resorts and food. Its two main towns Marigot (Capital) and Grand Case are steeped in old Creole Architecture and Food, very similar to the Frech Quarter of New Orleans. Grand Case is known as the “Culinary Capital of the Caribbean” thanks to its rows of French Restaurants and endless supply of fresh seafood. We walked the entire length of the town which has two very narrow one-way streets, one north and one south. There is a seaside atmosphere and a million-miles away from the rat race feel to this place. Met some locals who simply keep pace with the slow steady movements of the sun and the moon at night. Its island time here and no place for watches. Marigot is much larger and has more of the bigger city feel but its old Creole Buildings and water-front pubs playing local reggae validate its place amongst the slow pace Caribbean. Morne Du Fort Louis Fort built in 1748 overlooks Marigot offering perfect views and many giant golden red-chined Iguanas !!!
The French side has heaps more attractions than the Dutch side. Besides being able to walk the Creole towns we walked the summit of Pic Paradis (Highest Point), swam 2km in pristine Friar's Bay Beach and enjoyed multiple lookouts at Rotary Point (Des Baleines), Orient Bay, Abris Pubelle (Village) and Anse Marcel. Our last stop was Marigot where we celebrated with the locally brewed SXM Lager Beer !!!
You aint seen this island until you see the French side. Despite the thrills of the Zipline and Jet Blasts of the Dutch side, the Creole Francais side has plenty more to offer so we put it ahead of the Dutch side in terms of must-visit. I am sure you will agree once you see the images below…
SAINT MARTIN IN A NUTSHELL:
• Population (2025): 25,520 residents.
• Gender Ratio: 53.8% female and 46.2% male.
• Median Age: 42.5 years.
• Population Density: 480 inhabitants per km².
• Land Area: 53 km².
• Capital: Marigot.
• Highest Point: Pic Paradis at 424 meters.
• Political Status: French Overseas Collectivity with Full French Law applying (Part of EU).
• Main Industry: Tourism (85% of the island's economy and labour force).
• GDP (Nominal): Estimated at $649.21 million (as of 2021 data).
• GDP Per Capita: Recorded at $21,668 in 2021.
• Currency: Euro (€).
BRIEF HISTORY OF SAINT MARTIN:
The history of Saint-Martin's French side is defined by its early indigenous roots, centuries of colonial shifting, and its modern transition into an autonomous French territory.
• Inhabited by Amerindian peoples from South America, including the Arawaks and later the Kalinago (Caribs), as early as 2000 BC.
• Sighted by Christopher Columbus on 11 November 1493 (the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours) and claimed for Spain.
• Treaty of Concordia (1648): After the Spanish abandoned the island, the French and Dutch signed a treaty to peacefully divide it.
• Between 1648 and 1816, control of the island shifted over 16 times between the French, Dutch.
• The 18th century saw the rise of a plantation economy (sugar, cotton, tobacco) heavily reliant on enslaved labour from Africa.
• France officially abolished slavery on the island on 27 1848, 15 years before the Dutch side followed suit.
• Following the abolition of slavery and the decline of the salt industry, the island suffered a prolonged economic depression.
• Starting in the 1960s and 1970s, the French side shifted focus to luxury tourism, leading to rapid economic and population growth.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SAINT MARTIN:
1. The island of Saint Martin is the smallest inhabited landmass in the world shared by two sovereign nations—France and the Netherlands. The French side occupies approximately 60% (about 53 km²) of the total area.
2. Local folklore claims the border was decided in 1648 by a walking contest. A Frenchman and a Dutchman walked in opposite directions around the coast until they met. Legend says the Frenchman won more land because he drank wine, while the Dutchman was slowed down by stronger Dutch gin (jenever).
3. Since the Treaty of Concordia in 1648, the border between the French and Dutch sides has remained peaceful and completely open. There are no passport controls or physical barriers between the two territories.
4. The French side, specifically the town of Grand Case, is widely recognized as the culinary capital of the Caribbean.
5. Unlike the Dutch side (which is an autonomous country), French Saint-Martin is an Overseas Collectivity of France and part of the European Union. The official currency is the Euro, and French laws generally apply.
6. The French side contains the island's highest elevation, Pic Paradis, which stands at 424 meters.
7. Orient Bay is world-famous for its southern end, which is a designated clothing-optional (nudist) beach area, often referred to as the "St. Tropez of the Caribbean".
8. Overlooking the capital of Marigot, Fort Louis was built in 1789 to defend the town's warehouses and salt stores from English attacks.
9. The towns of Marigot and Grand Case are known for traditional Creole architecture, featuring brightly coloured wooden houses with intricate, chiselled wood decorations (gingerbread trim).
10. Saint Martin is the only place in the world that celebrates two separate Carnivals. The French side holds its celebration in February (leading up to Ash Wednesday), while the Dutch side holds its larger event later in April.
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