Name: Explore Martinique on walking and food tasting tour
SKU: 40253
Price: 10 USD
Availability: InStock

Duration: 2h

Activity Level: Easy

Experience: Adventure, Foodie, Historical, Nature

Language: English

Photo permit included

Tour by public transport

Canal Boat tour included

Train tickets included

Suitable for little children

Wheelchair accessible tour

Museum ticket included

Light snack included

Lunch included

Transportation included

Walking Tour

Overview

Being a beautiful city with many beaches, historical attractions, rain forests and rich culture, Fort de France (Martinique) is a popular tourist destination. By joining this tour, you get an opportunity to walk around the city, exploring its streets, the local market and many other places of interest. As food tasting is included, you will also get closer to the local culture. Get to see the statue of the Empress of France, beautiful library and 19th century Cathedral.

What's included

English-speaking guide
Pick-up and drop-off
Food tasting

Transportation
Gratuities

Pick-up and drop-off at the port of Fort de France

Highlights

Fort de France

Fort-de-France is a commune and the capital of Martinique, an overseas department of France located in the Caribbean. It is also one of the major cities in the Caribbean. Even if you've come to Martinique for the beaches, you'll be very glad to spend a day in vibrant Fort-de-France, the island's capital and by far the biggest city in the French West Indies. A popular destination for cruise ships, international yachties and French tourists, the bustling centre has everything from tranquil parks and a tiny beach to colourful local markets and worthwhile restaurants, its lively streets contrasting starkly with the rest of often sleepy Martinique. The obvious attraction is Fort St-Louis, from which the city takes it name. The capital is also a superb shopping destination and the best place to source local souvenirs.

La Savane

La Savane is a 12½ acre park located on the Fort-de-France Bay in Martinique. It was formerly known as Jardin du Roi (garden of the king) and its first purpose is said to have been to harbour scientific experiments on plants that were new to the colony at that time. The park has no fence. Its Caribbean gardens face Fort Saint Louis (formerly known as Fort Royal) on the east side. On the west side the park borders the Bibliothèque Schoelcher (or Schoelcher Library), a Romanesque-Byzantine building initially part of the Paris Exposition of 1889, dismantled, shipped to Martinique and re-built in Fort-de-France. La Savane is home to a statue of Josephine Tascher de La Pagerie, born on the island on 23 June 1763, later known as Josephine de Beauharnais, first wife of Napoleon and Empress of France. The Carrara marble statue, created by Vital Dubray, was vandalized and is now missing its head. The park also shelters a tiny colorful market offering exotic items, souvenirs and snacks.

Martinique

Martinique, island and overseas territorial collectivity of France, in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It is included in the Lesser Antilles island chain. Its nearest neighbours are the island republics of Dominica, 22 miles (35 km) to the northwest, and Saint Lucia, 16 miles (26 km) to the south. Guadeloupe, another part of overseas France, lies about 75 miles (120 km) to the north. The name Martinique is probably a corruption of the Indian name Madiana (“Island of Flowers”) or Madinina (“Fertile Island with Luxuriant Vegetation”), as reputedly told to Christopher Columbus by the Caribs in 1502. The administrative capital and chief town is Fort-de-France.

Schœlcher Library

At the intersection of Rue de la Liberté and Rue Victor Sévère, stands what is certainly the most beautiful building of Fort-de-France: the Schœlcher Library. Ordered by the abolitionist Victor Schœlcher (who wanted to share his personal collection of 10,000 books and 250 musical scores), this library was designed by the architect Pierre-Henri Picq. The library is characterized by its metal framework, its glass dome, its colors inspired by Art Nouveau and its Byzantine architecture. First presented in Paris between 1886 and 1887, Schœlcher Library is then taken apart, sent, and rebuilt as before, in Martinique. Always open to public, Schœlcher Library is now listed as one of the martinican historical monuments. It comprises around 130,000 books, which include some of Schœlcher's original collection, some ancient manuscripts and many Caribbean documents –some of them dating from the seventeenth century.

St. Louis Cathedral

St. Louis Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral located in Martinique, an overseas department of France. It was built in the late 19th-century in the Romanesque Revival style and serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Fort-de-France. The church is situated in the downtown area of the capital Fort-de-France, at the intersection of rue Victor Schœlcher and rue Blénac. The construction of the cathedral began in the mid-17th century and it opened in 1657. Due to the natural disasters that have plagued Fort-de-France over the years, the current structure dates back to 1895 and was built with an iron frame in order to withstand these calamities. It is the seventh church to be erected on the site; it was built by Pierre-Henri Picq.

Itinerary

09:00

You will be met at the port.

Experience the rich culture and architecture that Fort de France has to offer whilst sampling it’s local sweets and bites! With a maximum of 10 people on this tour, you will enjoy an intimate discovery of Martinque’s flavours! This your is a fun way to discover the city and the treasures of Fort de France on foot, whilst enjoying the local cuisine and bites. You will stroll through the local market with your professional guide where the local delicacies will be on display with a couple of hidden secrets, see the local spices and quirky souvenirs before passing through the Old courthouse where you can admire the statue dedicated to the French writer, Victor Schoelcher. The impressive architectural Schoelcher Libary, is home to much of Victor Schoelcher’s works, as well as a donation from his own personal collection of works. Your next stop will be the Romanesque revival style cathedral, St Louis Cathedral. Built in the late 19th Century, it is situated in the downtown area of Fort de France and it is the 7th Church to be constructed on the site due to natural disasters. During your downtime, you will taste some of the local delights, such as ice creams, pastries, local candies and much more! As your tour draws to a close you will make your final stop at Savannah Park, which was formerly known as the Jardin du Roi (Garden of the King), this 12.5 acre park is situated in the bay of Fort de France. This park is home to the statue of Josephine Tascher de La Pagerie, born on the island in 1763, Josephine was the first wife of Napoleon and the Empress of France.

As you make your way back to the port with your guide, have the chance to enjoy the final local cuisine whilst relaxing on the grass with your carpets and pillows watching the world go by! Now you are fully relaxed, you will then make your way with your guide to the cruise port in plenty of time for your cruise ships departure.

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Explore Martinique on walking and food tasting tour