Sainte Anne

History of the municipality of SAINTE ANNE

A Martinique municipality in tune with its history

Sainte-Anne gets its name from a man who defended the island against the English in 1808. Its post-colonization history dates back to 1678 when a chapel was built for the 700 inhabitants who depended on the parish of Le Marin.

Only sugar cane was cultivated at that time. In 1731, an independent parish of Le Marin was created under the name "Sainte-Anne des Salines."

In 1762, the English landed in Sainte-Anne but were ultimately repelled by the neighborhood's defense. The Notre-Dame church was destroyed several times, first by the English in 1693 and then by a cyclone in 1817. The municipality officially became one in 1837.

At the end of the 19th century, the city's economy shifted towards tourism after the closure of the central factory in Le Marin. The Sainte-Anne church was enlarged and embellished in 1866, then restored in 1994 by the municipality after extensive work undertaken in 1991 to renovate its bell tower.

Today, listed as a historical monument, the Notre-Dame church of Sainte-Anne is one of the island's first grand buildings.

During the Salette pilgrimage, the site of the calvary just behind the church is visited by more than 5,000 people in September.

URBANISM

Rural but well-served community

Located in the agglomeration community of the Espace Sud de l’île, Sainte-Anne Martinique is well served by the subLib,transport network, affiliated to Martinique Transport It is possible to borrow a taxico (shared taxi) from the Pointe Simon bus station, to connect Fort-de-France and Sainte-Anne.

The commune is also served by the D9A departmental road as far as the centre of the village, which only crosses on the seaward side, in the North-South direction. The opposite direction is carried out in parallel by a communal road.

The districts of Sainte-Anne

Here are the different districts of the commune : Anse Michel, Bareto, Barrière la Croix, Belle Languette, Belvédère, Cap Cabaret, Cap Chevalier, Cap Ferré, Champfleury, Crève Coeur, Débarcadère, Derrière Morne, Fond Repos, Gautonne, la Casse, les Anglais, les Hauts de Beauregard, les Hauts Étages, Madet, Manon, Panorama, Pointe Marin, Poirier and Rabat Joie.

Geography of this southern island municipality

Sainte-Anne at the southern tip of the island

The municipality is located at the extreme south of Martinique and is surrounded by Le Marin and Rivière-Pilote.

The average altitude of Sainte-Anne is about 100 meters. Its area is 38.42 km². Its latitude is 14.439 degrees North and its longitude is 60.879 degrees West.

A rural municipality, Sainte-Anne has a population of about 4,650 inhabitants.

Its 22 km of white sandy beaches give it a postcard-like appearance and are among the most beautiful beaches in the south of Martinique: the famous Salines Beach, Anse à Prunes, Anse Caritan, Anse Michel, and Pointe Marin.

The municipality also has a nature reserve dotted with islets. Notable ones include Îlet Chevalier and Table du Diable.

POLITICS

A city in tune with its values

Sainte-Anne belongs to the district of Le Marin. Its Mayor, Mr Jean-Michel Gémieux, who has been at the head of the municipal council since 2014, is pursuing his desire to keep the commune among the most popular seaside resorts in the Lesser Antilles.

He succeeds Mr. Garcin Malsa, mayor from 1989 to 2014 and emblematic figure of the independence movement in Martinique. He is also one of the pioneers of sustainable development on the island, and the president of the MIR or International Movement for the Reparation of Slavery Crimes.

Sainte-Anne is, among others, twinned with the following towns and cities:

• Bouillante, en Guadeloupe
• Soufrière, à Sainte-Lucie
• Gorée, Senegal

YOUTH

A community that raises its youth

The commune of Sainte-Anne has 4 primary schools and 1 secondary school :

• Beauregard Nursery School
• Cap Ferré School
• Barrière-Lacroix School
• Belfond School
• Isidore Pelage Secondary School For secondary education, young people have to go to the surrounding municipalities, for example to Le Marin, the Lycée Montgérald or the Lycée professionnel Raymond Néris.

CULTURE

What to do in Sainte-Anne, day and night ?

Escape to nature Swimming, camping, visits, hiking, Sainte-Anne is as much appreciated by the residents as by the numerous visitors of the south of Martinique.

• The peninsula of Sainte-Anne
• Pointe Marin Beach
• The lighthouse of Cabrits Island
• The Petrification Savannah
• The Ramsar site of the Etang des Salines

Sainte-Anne is also recognized as the camping spot in Martinique. Camping in Martinique is highly appreciated by residents, especially during the Easter holidays in Martinique. The commune has a municipal campsite at Pointe Marin, and other Sainte-Anne beaches are often popular for camping: Anse à Prunes, beach of Salines, Anse Trabaud for example. Wild camping is not allowed in Martinique even if many spots are suitable for it.

The history of Sainte-Anne through the 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 Sainte-Anne :

• Notre-Dame de Sainte-Anne

In the culture and entertainment category, you will find in Sainte-Anne :

• the Garden of the Sea
• the Sainte-Anne market

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 :

• Ruins of the Habitation Crève Coeur
• Church of Notre-Dame of Sainte-Anne
• Habitation Les Anglais Des Grottes
• Dwelling of Val d’Or called the “Moulin de Val d’Or”.

IN SUMMARY

Sainte-Anne is a commune of Martinique which offers many assets. It has some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the Caribbean. The development of local crafts and gastronomy, the sites linked to the historical and cultural heritage but also the outdoor activities around the local fauna and flora, make it an ideal place to relax for both residents and visitors. All this with respect for people and resources .