Welcome to Martinique, my 17TH 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 brings our to-date UN Countries to 6 and to-date Territories to 6. Even Stephen. But Stephen was not the first off the ship – I was !!! Glorious cool morning in Fort De France, the Capital of French-drenched Martinique. We disembarked at 710am and had to wait until 830am for our hire car to be delivered even though we were promised 8am. No one on these islands has been on-time. Not even the name brands such as Avis or Herz so always reserve 30min before your desired delivery time !!!
We set oof inland towards the highest volcanic peak of Mount Pelle. What a drive. Completely twisty. Completely drenched in thick green luscious jungle. More so than Dominica but not as thick as Saint Lucia. Not many official viewpoints along the way - we made our own stopping kerbside in several places. The Capital is surrounded by jungle so it does not take long to be smothered by it. The roads are in good condition but very narrow at many moments. The Capital is colourful but there are many steep hillsides covered in dilapidated colourful homes much like the favellas of Rio. Most buildings are covered in mould or moss or even lichen because it rains here most of the time and is quite damp and humid. Everything has a weathered look. Just before the highest peak is a town called Morne Rouge which is nestled in a valley surrounded by jungle. Surprised not to find any boulangeries or coffee !!! Had to settle for iced coffees from the Carrefour Minimart with croissants from the ship !!! Monte Pelle (as in the world famous “hand of God” soccer player) was worth the long windy twisty curly loopy road !!! The day was not up to it as there were too many clouds blocking that much needed sun that a camera loves to eat. Nevertheless, the shots will do it justice.
The highlight of the day was definitely SAINT PIERRE, the first capital of Martinique whose capitalism was stopped short by non-other than Monte Pelle volcano that spewed its magma guts in 1902 and vomited all over Saint Pierre, sadly killing its entire then-population of 30,000 souls. The capital then moved to the present-day Fort De France. Saint Pierre was partly rebuilt and now serves as the cultural capital, sporting Creole buildings and a relaxed musical rum-filled seaside lifestyle that compares well with Grand Cas of Saint Martin that we visited only yesterday. Rum in fact was invented in Martinique and is acknowledged as the best in the World !!! We enjoyed meeting the locals and like most French Territories, VERY FEW people spoke any English.
Bundy and I enjoyed a swim in the next-door Plage De Anse Turin complete with black volcanic sand a calm swimmable shoreline taking me to 1.5km. A final 22km drive from here took us to our last attraction in a place perched above Fort De France and aptly named “Calvary Monument” likened to the “Place of the Skull” where Jesus Christ was crucified overlooking ancient Jerusalem. This place was a nightmare to get to with footpaths, not roads, leading to it – just wide enough and steep enough to almost scrape the sides of our car – if we had come across buildings too narrow to pass there is no way we could have reversed up the narrow footpath we had just drive down – stuck here for ever !!! But we made it. Took our glorious last photos and made it back down in time to board the ship 20min before it left. Hard to leave our car keys under the driver seat matt to make it back in time to the ship !!!
Unlike our ship the photos below have not set sail so that you can immerse yourself in them and enjoy what is the French Jungle of Martinique…
MARTINIQUE IN A NUTSHELL:
Martinique is an overseas department and region of France:
• Population (2025): 340,439.
• Population Density: 321 people per square kilometre.
• Median Age: 49.7 years.
• Gender Ratio: 82.9 males per 100 females.
• Ethnic Composition: Afro-Caribbean (90%), European (5%).
• Official Language: French; Martinican Creole is the widely spoken vernacular.
• Total Land Area: 1,128 square kilometres.
• Highest Point: Mont Pelée, an active volcano at 1,397 meters.
• Coastline: 350 kilometres.
• Climate: Tropical with an average year-round temperature of 26°C (79°F).
• Currency: Euro (€).
• GDP per Capita: US$24,411.
• Unemployment Rate: 22%.
• Major Industries: Services (83–85%), tourism, rum production, and agriculture (bananas, sugarcane).
• Trade: High dependence on France, with roughly 70% of imports originating from mainland France.
• Literacy Rate: 97.7%.
BRIEF HISTORY OF MARTINIQUE:
The history of Martinique is defined by its pre-Columbian roots, centuries of French colonial rule, and its eventual integration as an official department of France.
• Originally inhabited by the Arawaks (starting c. 1st century AD), who were later supplanted by the more aggressive Caribs (c. 10th–11th century).
• Christopher Columbus landed on 15 June 1502 naming the island Martinica.
• French settlers led by Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc established the first permanent European settlement at Saint-Pierre in 1635.
• Sugarcane was introduced in 1654, leading to the massive importation of enslaved Africans to work on plantations.
• King Louis XIV issued a decree in 1685 to regulate the lives of enslaved people and institutionalize the slave trade.
• Throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, Britain and France fought for control; the British occupied the island multiple times, notably from 1794 to 1802 and 1809 to 1814.
• Abolition of Slavery in 1848).
• Mount Pelée Eruption (1902): A catastrophic eruption destroyed the then-capital, Saint-Pierre, killing nearly 30,000 people and forcing the capital to move to Fort-de-France.
• World War II: Martinique initially adhered to the pro-Nazi Vichy government before joining the Free French cause in 1943.
• On 19 March 1946, Martinique officially became an overseas department of France (DOM), granting residents full French citizenship.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT MARTINIQUE:
1. Martinique is not an independent country but an integral part of France, with the same political status as a French department in Europe.
2. Home to "L'île aux Fleurs" (Island of Flowers).
3. Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie, who became the Empress Joséphine, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte was born on a sugar plantation in Les Trois-Îlets in Martinique.
4. The active volcano Mount Pelée erupted catastrophically on 8 May 1902, completely destroying the city of Saint-Pierre and killing approximately 30,000 people.
5. In the 1902 eruption, the only known survivor within the main blast zone of Saint-Pierre was a prisoner named Ludger Sylbaris, who was saved by the thick, poorly ventilated walls of his dungeon-like jail cell.
6. Martinique is widely considered the "rum capital of the world" and is especially famous for its "rhum agricole," a unique type of rum made from fresh sugarcane juice rather than molasses.
7. Mount Pelée was officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023.
8. The former capital, Saint-Pierre, was known as the "Little Paris of the West Indies" due to its sophistication, beautiful architecture, opera house, and bustling port before its destruction in 1902.
9. The island is known as a home for the unique and rhythmic music style called zouk, which became popular in the 1980s with bands like Kassav'.
10. Blend of Cultures: Martinican culture is a rich and vibrant fusion of French, African, Indian, and Caribbean influences, evident in its cuisine (like the spicy colombo stew and accras fritters), music, and everyday life.
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