Fort de France

Airlocal welcomes you to Fort-de-France, the capital of Martinique. Not only the capital of Martinique, the city of Fort-de-France represents the first economic heart of the island, and for good reason, it concentrates most of the administrative, military and cultural functions of the territory.

Many Martiniquais from the north and south, but also its inhabitants, the Foyalais, go there every morning to work, which creates a lot of traffic jams at rush hour.

Together with the neighbouring communes, which are also well developed, Fort-de-France is at the heart of a conurbation of over 165,000 inhabitants. There are :

• Le Lamentin with its many business parks – Californie, Les Mangles, Acajou, La Lézarde, Bois Carré, Manhity, and the international airport Martinique Aimé Césaire ;
• Schoelcher, university town among others;
• Saint-Joseph, known for its greenery and watering holes, including Coeur Bouliki and its hiking trail of the same name – Trace cœur Bouliki ;
• Case-Pilote, seaside and touristic, but also hilly and green in the mornes.

History of the municipality of FORT DE FRANCE

Fort-de-France between chief town and capital

The city of Fort-de-France was not always the capital of Martinique. Even though the first settlers landed on the northern part of the Caribbean coast – present-day Saint-Pierre – Fort-de-France was seen as a very strategic area, for military and maritime protection, due to its bay. In 1638, a fort was erected, which gradually, despite the many marshy areas of the site at the time, gave rise to a city around the “Fort Royal”. In 1681, the town of Fort Royal was named the administrative, military and political capital of Martinique and the French West Indies. Saint-Pierre retained its status as the economic capital, with a much larger population, fleet and port than Fort Royal.

Despite numerous health, natural and geopolitical upheavals – yellow fever epidemics, earthquakes, cyclones, English invasion, fires … – Fort-de-France was able to take advantage of the eruption of Mount Pelée on 8 May 1902 to take the reins of power in its entirety. With Saint-Pierre decimated, Fort-de-France saw itself as the only city to take over its commercial heritage. More than 6,000 refugees from the northern communes settled there and in barely 15 years, its population doubled. The countryside emptied – as a result of a massive rural exodus – and Fort-de-France held the political, administrative, military and commercial functions of the island.

The city of Fort-de-France has been renamed several times over the years :

• Between 1635 and 1672: Cul-de-Sac du Fort-Royal ;
• Between 1672 and 1793: parish and then town of Fort-Royal;
• Between 1793 and 1794: Fort-de-la-République or République-Ville ;
• Between 1794 and 1807: Fort Royal ;
• Since 1807: Fort-de-France.

URBANISM

A dense transport network

Taking advantage of its central location on the island, the city of Fort-de-France is well served. In terms of roads, the A1 connects the Capital to Aimé Césaire Airport, then the RN takes over, towards the south of Martinique. Four national roads also serve the city:

• The RN1 towards Trinité ;
• The RN2 towards Saint-Pierre ;
• The RN3 or Route de la Trace, towards Morne-Rouge ;
• The RN4 towards Saint-Joseph.

From east to west, the RD41 ring road goes around the capital.

With 135 neighborhoods to connect, road public transport is very important in Fort-de-France. Its main urban network, called Mozaïk, covers the perimeter of the CACEM, namely Schoelcher, Le Lamentin and Saint-Joseph. At the Pointe Simon, the collective taxi station connects the capital to the other towns of the island.

Recently, in an effort to open up roads, the TCSP has started its first routes, connecting downtown Fort-de-France from Pointe Simon to Lamentin- Place Mahault, Carrère interchange, and Aimé Césaire Airport. The cycling network, like most of the territory, is very underutilized. Some areas still allow cycling enthusiasts to practice, such as on the Didier road, after the tunnel, near the Louis Achille Stadium, and in the airport zone.

Located 10 km from the center of Fort-de-France, Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport had 2 million passengers in 2019. Arrivals mainly come from :

• The Caribbean (Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Barbados…)
• North America (United States and Canada)
• South America, passing through French Guiana ;
• and Europe (mainly France and Belgium).

By sea, Fort-de-France Bay is a considerable asset. Iléens and surrounding inhabitants – including Arlésiens – can quickly reach the Capital by taking one of the Vedettes Madinina. The same is true for Foyalais or surrounding inhabitants who wish to reach the Trois-Ilets in 20 or 30 minutes. There are other shipping companies that use the Capital as a strong link for its rotations. This is the case, for example, of the Albatros company which connects Fort-de-France to Marin, but also to Rodney Bay (St. Lucia) or the Express des Iles which connects Fort-de-France to Saint-Pierre, but also Martinique to Guadeloupe, Dominica and St. Lucia.

Outside the territory, and for cruise enthusiasts, boarding takes place at the port of Fort-de-France Martinique.

Territory mainly importing goods (around 70%), maritime transit is huge. After the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Martinique, it is the turn of the Grand Port of Martinique to manage the port of Fort-de-France, the most important of the island. What are its main characteristics ?

• It covers several sites: container terminal of Pointe des Grives, quays of Baie des Tourelles, West Quay, Radoub basin and cruise terminal of Pointe Simon.
• It holds the rank of 6th largest container port in France with 160,000 TEUs handled each year.
• Generating around 1,000 direct jobs, it is the first employment pool of French overseas.

GEOGRAPHY of this municipality in the center of Martinique

A central city on the Caribbean coast

The settlers quickly realised that Fort-de-France has a strategic and interesting geographical location. It is almost halfway between the northern and southern ends of the island.

The city of Fort-de-France is surrounded by very attractive, dynamic and populated municipalities. 3 des 4 qui l’entourent font partie du top 10 des communes les plus peuplées : Le Lamentin, Schoelcher and the commune de Saint-Joseph – the 4th bordering commune being Fonds-Saint-Denis.

A very large municipality – 11.7 km from north to south and 5.2 km from east to west – Fort-de-France has a very varied landscape :

• Its Caribbean coastline and bay;
• Its historically and culturally rich city centre ;
• Its green mantle, a little further inland, going up the roads of Balata or of the Trace which leads to the commune of Morne Rouge.

Variety of landscapes means variety of reliefs. Indeed, the hypercentre of the city, also called the “lower town”, extends over a flat area – formerly marshy with mangroves – between the Tartenson and Pichevin Mornes (Hauts du Port).

The most hilly parts of Fort-de-France are due to the volcanic massif of the Pitons du Carbet – the highest point of the capital at 1,100 metres – and the Morne Césaire – at just over 600 metres. The steep, green volcanic slopes that make up this part of the city are criss-crossed by several small rivers that can quickly burst their banks in wet weather. The central part of the island is formed by the Pitons du Carbet and the Plaine du Lamentin, a group of hills and plateaus with gentle slopes.

On the coastline, cliffs and low-lying areas share the coastline, not forgetting a few snippets of mangrove swamp around the Pointe des Sables.

POLITICS

A city loyal to its political party

The March 2020 municipal elections only confirm the political trend in Fort-de-France. For more than 50 years, the city has been held by the Martinique Progressive Party (PPM) founded by Aimé Césaire, who was elected Mayor of the city several times. After Serge Letchimy – for 9 years – then Raymond Saint-Louis-Augustin – for one term -, Didier Laguerre was re-elected for the second consecutive term.

YOUTH

A city that attracts young people

In terms of demographics, the city of Fort-de-France attracts young people and working people. As far as schooling is concerned, the capital alone has 25 nursery schools, 59 elementary schools, 8 secondary schools, 4 vocational high schools, 3 general public high schools and 7 schools under contract. After obtaining the Baccalaureate, young people have the possibility of joining preparatory classes for the Grandes Écoles, the Caribbean Arts Campus, the Europe-America Catholic Institute or the digital CFA, which will be launched for its first term in May 2022.

CULTURE

What to do in Fort-de-France, day and night ?

Escape to nature Walking, hiking, swimming… the capital has no shortage of outdoor spots, combining nature, greenery and entertainment :

• Garden of the Savannah ;
• Garden of Balata ;
• Martinique Regional Nature Park,
• Aimé Césaire Cultural Park ;
• Absalon Waterfall ;
• Didier Waterfall ;
• La Française beach and its Malécon.

The history of Fort-de-France through stone

In terms of architecture, be it religious or cultural monuments, the history of Martinique has left its mark on us.

In the religious monuments category, you will find in Fort-de-France :

• Saint-Louis Cathedral ;
• Saint-Antoine des Terres-Sainville Church ;
• The Church of Redoubt ;
• The Church of the Sacred Heart in Balata ;
• and the Chapel of the former military hospital in the Parc Floral (destroyed in 1960).

In the museum category, you will find in Fort-de-France :

• the Departmental Museum of Pre-Columbian Archaeology ;
• the Regional Museum of History and Ethnography of Martinique ;
• the Father Pinchon Museum.

In 2018, traces of Amerindian heritage in Martinique were discovered on the banks of the La Jambette River. These are the petroglyphs of Chateauboeuf.

In the culture and entertainment category, you will find in Fort-de-France :

• the Aimé Césaire Floral Park ;
• the Atrium.

Monument Historique” or “Patrimoine du 20e siècle” designation

Many buildings, including those mentioned above, are protected by “Monument Historique” or “Patrimoine du 20e siècle” designations.

These awards include, among others:

• the House of Aimé Césaire ;
• Fort Saint-Louis ;
• Surena Bakery ;
• Radoub Basin ;
• the Pointe des Grives lighthouse ;
• the Old Mill of Didier ;
• the Gueydon Fountain ;
• the Espace Camille-Darsières, former Palais de Justice…

IN SUMMARY

The problem of paid parking, the lack of free spaces in the morning, high prices, not to mention the financial consequences linked to the covid and the stopping of a large part of Martinique’s economy, the capital is losing its commercial attractiveness.

Despite the closure of many shops in the city centre, Fort-de-France remains the focal point for many Martiniqueans in terms of economy, administration, culture, entertainment, business and tourism.

The construction of the Pointe Simon business centre, not far from the mouth of the Rivière Madame, is a concrete example. Covering nearly 15 hectares, this centre consists of :

• D’une tour de 20 étages, la Tour Lumina, destinée à des bureaux, dont la chaîne Martinique 1ère ;
• Un immeuble de 7 étages accueillant des bureaux, des commerces et l’hôtel d’affaires, le Simon ;
• Un immeuble de 8 étages dédié au tourisme d’affaires.

The capital’s business centre is set to expand with the creation of a 24,000 m² urban complex and a shopping mall called Fort-de-France antan lontan, near the Malécon, as an extension of the waterfront development.