Schœlcher Librairy

You’ve now arrived in front of one of the most iconic landmarks in Fort-de-France: the magnificent Schoelcher Library—undoubtedly the most photographed building in the city. It was founded in 1887, when Victor Schoelcher, a passionate advocate for the abolition of slavery, decided to donate his vast personal collection to the General Council of Martinique. With no children of his own, he insisted that his 10,000 books and 250 musical scores be used to create a public library, open to all, and especially dedicated to the education of former slaves. He also requested that a dedicated librarian be appointed—the first of whom was Victor Cochinat, a Martinican lawyer and journalist, best known for having been Alexandre Dumas’s secretary. The French architect Henri Picq was chosen to design the building, and he created a structure that was truly ahead of its time, made from wrought iron, concrete, and wood—sturdy materials intended to withstand the island’s infamously wild weather. The library was first assembled in Paris and displayed in the Tuileries Garden before being dismantled, shipped across the Atlantic, and reassembled in Fort-de-France. The reconstruction turned out to be more complicated than expected. Work was delayed multiple times—first by the liquidation of the construction company, then by the great fire of 1890, which destroyed much of Schoelcher’s original collection, and finally by a cyclone in 1891. But the library stood firm, and it finally opened its doors in 1893. And as you can see, it was worth the wait. Architecturally, it’s a true gem, combining Byzantine, Art Nouveau, Egyptian, and Western classical influences into a strikingly eclectic style. Inside, the space is just as impressive, centred around a graceful iron framework topped with a glass skylight. Natural light pours in through the large windows, illuminating the names of famous French writers engraved in the decorative frieze around the ceiling. Remarkably, 1,200 of Schoelcher’s original books survived the fire—including some real treasures, such as a signed copy of Victor Hugo’s Ninety-Three, a Code Noir, which is the royal decree issued by Louis XIV defining the legal conditions of slavery in the French colonies, and a Latin navigation manual dating back to the 16th century. Access to the library is free, so don’t hesitate to step inside this beautiful historic monument, which today holds over 13,000 works—including a major collection focused on the Antilles.