The cultural dynamism of the island of Guadeloupe

Grande-Terre or "the little Britain" of the Antilles

The right side of the Butterfly Island is the most populated of the department of Guadeloupe, it consists of ten municipalities.

Pointe-à-Pitre in full restructuring

One of the most famous communes of Grande-Terre is Pointe-à-Pitre. A vast restructuring and renovation project was launched about ten years ago to allow it to regain its past dynamism.

Pointe-à-Pitre is currently entering the second phase of this project with the destruction of large buildings such as the Gabarre towers on the city's northern outskirts. The idea is to create buildings with architectures that will better integrate the landscape and allow for a greater social mix. Beyond revitalizing this part of Pointe-à-Pitre, the goal is to reconcile the outskirts of the town with the old city, which has kept its heritage and cultural character.

It has also been recognized for its cultural awakening: in 2015 it inaugurated the Memorial ACTe dedicated to the collective memory of slavery and the slave trade. In addition, many museums are accessible in Pointe-à-Pitre such as the Schoelcher Museum or the Saint Joseph Perse Museum.

The city's cultural landscape is also enhanced by galleries and artists' studios, which feature abstract art, free expression, and plastic research. Pointe-à-Pitre is also a stopover for cruise ships at the port Guadeloupe Port Caraïbes.

The town of Les Abymes, a cultural city

Located not far from Pointe-à-Pitre, the town of Les Abymes is the most populated of the island of Guadeloupe, gathering nearly 60 000 inhabitants. Several monuments classified as historical monuments are accessible within its walls such as the habitation Mamiel or the Maison Petrelluzzi.

La Riviéra du Levant, hamlet of peace

The territory of Riviéra du Levant, which includes the communes of Saint François, Sainte Anne, le Gosier and Désirade, is renowned for its landscapes. With its 1530 inhabitants, the island of Désirade is a carefully protected haven of peace. It is actually a real geological reserve with its coral reef, its beaches, and its unique flora.

It is the same for the communes of Saint Anne and Saint François, more populated but recognized as corners of paradise. In Saint François you will find the famous House of Coconut as well as the Museum of Fine Arts with no less than 150 paintings. Gosier is the third most populated commune on the island of Guadeloupe with nearly 30,000 inhabitants. Apart from its paradisiacal beaches, Gosier is known for the museum of costumes and traditions but also the Fort Fleur d'Epée, a historical monument of character.

The North Guadeloupe Territory, rural and authentic

This is the third and last territory of Grande-Terre, it includes five municipalities: Le Moule, Petit-Canal, Anse Bertrand, Port-Louis and Morne-à-l'Eau. This last territory is characterized by agriculture and local production.

You can visit the Gardel Sugar Factory, the Damoiseau Distillery but also the old Beauport factory. The latter is now transformed into a historical site that allows visitors to learn more about the sugar production and the transformation of sugar cane.

Basse-Terre or "the island of beautiful waters

It is the left side of the Butterfly Island. It includes no less than sixteen towns ranging from 1,749 inhabitants for the town of Vieux-Fort to 27,906 for the town of Baie-Mahault.

North Basse-Terre Territory, tradition and history

In this agricultural region, it is not the museums that are counted by the dozen but the distilleries! Open to the curious, the commune of Sainte-Rose has two of them: the Bonne Mère Distillery and the Reimonenq Distillery. The Domaine de Séverin, which honors the island's world-renowned rhums, is one of the most traditional on the island.

The culture of cocoa is also highlighted thanks to the Maison du Cacao located in Pointe-Noire. This particular town owes its name to the volcanic rocks present on the northern tip of the village. Its town hall is also classified as a historical monument, decorated with a republican column and four Creole huts by the architect Ali Tur, it is a real jewel.

Grand Sud Caraïbe territory, the natural heritage

This region is a green bower, it is the ideal destination to learn more about the flora of the Island of Guadeloupe. For example, through the forest library of the ONF in Gourbeyre where you can discover the medicinal plants and the creole gardens. But also the Botanical Gardens of Deshaies in Basse-Terre and the Garden of Cantamerle in Capesterre-Belle-Eau.

Beyond these nature paradises, there are several historical forts surrounded by vegetation such as Fort Delgrès in Basse-Terre, Fort l'Olive in Vieux Fort and Fort Napoleon in Terre-de-Haut. The Archipelago of the Saintes is the essential site of the Grand Sud Caraïbe Territory, located in the commune of Terre-de-Haut, it is an archipelago of volcanic islets. This cultural environment is the highest point on the island of Guadeloupe.

Means of transport

Your best choice to get around Guadeloupe is by car. It will allow you to visit the different parts of the island and especially to reach more easily the most remote corners of nature. For this, you can book your rental car in Guadeloupe with Europcar.

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