Fort-de-France

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Administration
Commune of Fort-de-France Fort Saint Louis
Location
Coordinates	14°35′60″N, 61°04′60″W
Country	France
Région	Martinique
Département	Martinique (préfecture)
Arrondissement	Fort-de-France
Canton	Chief town of 10 cantons
Intercommunality	Communauté d'agglomération du Centre de la Martinique
Mayor	Serge Letchimy (since 2001)
Statistics
Altitude	0 m–
Land area¹	44.21 km²
Population² (1999 census)	94,049
- Density (1999)	2,127/km²
Miscellaneous
Postal code	97200
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq. mi. or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
² Population sans doubles comptes: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel).

Fort Saint Louis seen from the sea

The frigate Ventôse can be seen behind the old fort

Fort-de-France is the capital of France's Caribbean département d'outre-mer of Martinique. With a population of 134,727 inhabitants (1999 census) in the urban area, 94,049 of whom live in the city (commune) of Fort-de-France proper, it is also one of the major cities in the Caribbean.

1 History
2 Naval base
3 Sights
4 External links

[edit] History

In 1638, Jacques Duparquet, first governor of Martinique, decided to have Fort Saint Louis built to protect the city against enemy attacks. The fort was soon destroyed, and rebuilt in 1669, when Louis XIV appointed the Marquis of Baas as governor general. Under his orders and those of his successors, particularly the Count of Blénac, the fort was built with a Vauban design.

Originally named Fort-Royal, the city became economically important after the volcanic eruption of Mount Pelée destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre in 1902.

[edit] Naval base

The Fort Saint-Louis in Fort-de-France is one of the French naval bases of the Caraib, along with Degrad des Cannes (French Guiana).

It is under command of the capitaine de vaisseau in charge of the Navy and the Naval air force for the Caraibs (COMAR ANTILLES). The forces based here include:

the BATRAL Champlain (L9030)
the P400 class patrol vessel Fougueuse (P685)
the frigate Ventôse (F733)

Also here are the administrative buildings of the base, the service for naval constructions, the radio station of Pointe des Sables and the ammunition storage facilities (at the end of Fort de France), and the Rivière Salée station (20 km away).

The fort is also home to the last iguana populations of Martinique.

[edit] Sights

The city has a fine, natural harbour defended by three forts:

Fort Desaix: built from 1763 to 1789, it was called Fort Bourbon in 1793, Fort la Convention in 1793, Fort George during the British occupations (1793-1802, 1809-1814), and Fort Desaix since 1802. This name was given by Napoleon Bonaparte after General Desaix (1768-1800).
Fort Tartenson
Fort Gerbault
Place de la Savane
Schoelcher Library
Balata Garden
Sacré-Cœur de Balata Basilica
Fort-de-France Cathedral:[1]

A statue commemorating Martinique-born Empress Josephine, the wife of Napoleon, is in the city.

However, in the late 90's, the head of the statue has been severed by angry groups of people who were tired of having the statue honored in the Fort-de-France beautiful park also known as "La Savane".

Indeed, to those angry people, the Empress (who is commonly believed to have influenced the re-implementation of slavery on the island) should have had the same destiny as French Royalties before her (see French Revolution) and after failing to convince the authorities, the people decided to sever the head of the Empress statue and left some red paint on the remaining neck.