Saint-Louis Cathedral

You’re now standing in front of the beautiful Saint-Louis Cathedral, right in the heart of Fort-de-France. The story of a place of worship on this site goes all the way back to the late 17th century, when the city was just beginning to grow around Fort Royal. The first church here was a simple wooden structure with a thatched roof. It was burned down in 1674 by the Dutch, who were attempting to seize the colony, and later rebuilt in stone and slate at the request of Count Charles de Blénac, then Governor General of the French West Indies. Damaged by a tsunami in 1766, the church was renovated, only to be struck again in 1839, this time by an earthquake, which forced its closure. A new church was built in 1854, after nine years of construction. It was elevated to the rank of cathedral when the Diocese of Saint-Pierre and Fort-de-France was created. It was the largest and most beautiful church in the colony at the time, richly decorated and furnished. But on June 22, 1890, a devastating fire swept through the capital—and the cathedral was among its victims. The roof was rebuilt, only to be torn off the following year by a tropical cyclone. As you can see, fate wasn’t kind. This time, the rebuilding was entrusted to architect Henri Picq, who took the lessons of the past to heart. He designed a new structure using iron—a bold choice aimed at resisting earthquakes and fire. He also chose a Romano-Byzantine style, very much in vogue at the end of the 19th century. The result is stunning, and thankfully, it’s still standing today! If you have time, step inside and take in the interior, which is striking for its spaciousness and the soft light that pours through its original stained-glass windows. The iron arches create a sense of lightness, and you’ll also spot a beautifully carved wooden pulpit and a grand pipe organ. I’ll leave you to explore the magnificent Saint-Louis Cathedral—now a listed historical monument—at your own pace.