Martinique is a small island located in the Caribbean archipelago near the American continent. Dominica is to its north and the island of Saint Lucia to the south. Its exact geographical coordinates are 14.38°N and 61.2° 2W. Martinique has about 350,400 inhabitants and 1,105 square kilometers (427 sq. mi.).
Martinique has been French since 1635 and a French department since 1946. Two languages are spoken: French and Creole, a local language inherited from the slave period. The currency is the euro.
The average temperature is 28°C (82F) all year round. There are only two seasons in Martinique: the hot season and the rainy season. Martinique is on the -4h time zone compared to GMT. There is no daylight saving time.
Martinique is located 6,845 km (4,253 mi) from Paris, about 8 hours by plane. 189 km (117 mi) separate it from Guadeloupe (the other main French territory in the Caribbean) but it is only 40 minutes by plane. If we want to compare it to Miami, it's a 3-hour flight for a distance of 2,345 km (1, 457 mi). For New York it is 3,158 km (1,962 mi) and 4h20 of flight on average.
A fond blanc is a place where the sea is very shallow, even several hundred meters from the beach, and where the sandy bottom (bioclastic debris and coarse white sand) is almost flush with the surface of the water.
The fond blanc is a special feature of Martinique, and every year thousands of the island's tourists can't leave without seeing and enjoying this natural gem at least once.
Danmyé, also called Laghia or ladja, is a Martinican martial art imported to the island by slaves from Africa who came to the island to work as slave labor on the island's plantations. The word is composed of two particles, "danm" which means "initiate" in two African languages and "yé" which means "group". The danmyé is therefore those who are initiated.
Within a verdant tropical park and surrounded by century-old trees, Plantation Leyritz is an old habitation located in the North Atlantic which has preserved the remains of its period buildings. It was an old agricultural domain, certainly the most important of the West Indies if we take into account the number of its buildings. It was founded by a noble from Bordeaux, Michel de Leyritz (1681-1764) who had settled in the North Atlantic region of the island for several years.
On the Friday before Easter, devout Catholic Martinicans go to church to commemorate the Passion of Christ. Then, from the church, the faithful will go to the different Stations of the Cross where they will sing and pray together in order to perpetuate the history of Calvary. This capital day of the Christian tradition is accompanied by a special diet. Indeed, fasting is recommended. It is also the last day of fasting, of the holy period.
If you come to Martinique during the Easter period you will be amazed by the singularity of the celebrations of the death and resurrection of Christ. Indeed, the Martinicans remain fervent Christians and Easter, one of the most important dates in Christianity along with Christmas, is very marked on the island.
Sargassum is a plant that belongs to the family Sargassaceae which includes 150 species of brown algae. It is the species Sargassum natans and S. fluitans which are found in the Atlantic Ocean and which wash up on the coasts of the Caribbean islands.
The Moulin du Val d'Or (Val d'Or mill) is one of the many witnesses to Martinique's slave-owning past. It was erected in the 18th century on the Habitation du Val d'Or to facilitate the crushing of sugar cane. With a height of 18 meters, it was the central element of the old plantation and the point of connection between the plantation, i.e. the place of the sugar production, and the pier of the seaside from where the goods were transported.
Fort Desaix overlooking the city of Fort-de-France was erected between 1765 and 1774 on the Morne Garnier at 146 meters above sea level.
At the time, there were many colonial wars, the European powers waged merciless wars to conquer the greatest number of territories in the Caribbean. It must be said that the islands produced coffee, cocoa, sugar or rum which sold for exorbitant prices once they arrived on European markets.
The Hardy distillery is located in Tartane in front of the Anse de la Brêche and near the Presqu'île de la Caravelle.
When choosing your summer or winter vacations, you hesitate and do not know yet which destination to choose. AZ Martinique has listed 10 essential reasons why you should choose Martinique. We say to you, see you soon!
The Salines is "THE" beach in Martinique. In the opinion of most of the population, it is the most beautiful beach of the island and it is sometimes described as the most…
The "Tombolo" is a broad band of sand formed by ocean currents that connects Sainte-Marie islet to the town on foot. Beware though, it is only during Lent…
La Favorite distillery was born in 1842 between Fort-de-France and Lamentin under the name of "Distillery Jambette", named after the river that fed it.…
Born in the first half of the 17th century, the Creole language is a mosaic of an extraordinary richness. Native American legacies were supplemented by the dialects of French colonists, Blacks from West Africa, and later "Coolies" from India and China.
Martinique is full of fruits, spices and vegetables that have, over the years, fully integrated the island's cuisine.
Bananas, coconuts, mangoes, pineapples, guavas and other passion fruits are used to make juices, ice creams and sorbets, cakes and many other desserts.
For you, AZ Martinique has traced their history on the island, their health benefits and their local use.
