St Pierre Martinique and all of its residents were destroyed
in 1902 when the infamous Mount
Pelee erupted in 1902. In one fell swoop, 30,000 residents,
with the exception of one lone prisoner, were wiped out
of existence. Built all around the old St. Pierre ruins,
the new and emerging Saint Pierre Martinique is a growing
community situated along the northwest coast of the Caribbean
island. Once enjoying the designation of an important
port and main city, St Pierre travel is now most popular
for its ruins and the history of the area. One of the
most appealing attractions for visitors is the short walk
down to the waterfront where a gorgeous black sand beach
awaits.
The most interesting aspect of St Pierre travel is the
history of the Caribbean. Saint
Pierre Martinique was first settled in 1635. By the time
the twentieth century came around, the city had grown
to a population of more than 30,000 residents and all
was continuing to thrive in the area. Sometimes called
the Paris of the
West Indies, up to twenty-five ships were anchored in
the bay at any given time, proving the area’s popularity.
By the very early nineteenth century, St Pierre Martinique
was considered one of the most progressive of all Caribbean
towns and featured modern city amenities such as telephones,
trams for area transportation,
and even electricity. On the day of May 8th in 1902, two
incredibly loud explosions ripped through the air. Mount
Pelee had erupted, literally splitting itself in half
with the powerful eruption.
Spewing out thick clouds of poisonous gases, seething hot lava and fiery ash, residents raced to avoid the death and destruction that was sure to hit. Little did most people know that death would be inevitable as the searing lava whisked down the mountain side and instantaneously dissipated every single thing in its path. In less than two minutes, the more than 30,000 residents of the area were killed and left in the St. Pierre ruins. Only one man miraculously survived, a prisoner kept safe in a cell deep underground in the St Pierre jail.
Today St Pierre travel means access to a few interesting
attractions and the chance
to enjoy a beautiful and tranquil seaside village. Of
course the stunning natural area of Mount Pelee is the
biggest attraction for St Pierre tourists. Transportation
to the mountain is fairly quick and requires a trip to
the lush inland area of north Martinique. Tours can be
easily arranged from St Pierre. The harbor is another
excellent place not to miss when visiting the area. The
harbor is also thick with the history of Mount Pelee’s
eruption. Of the many boats that were anchored in the
wide harbor, only one survived the catastrophic eruption
in 1902. Diving is a very popular pastime amid the wrecks
that lie around the harbor. Only about 546 yards offshore,
there are more than ten ship wrecks to explore as part
of the St. Pierre ruins.
The St Pierre ruins are a protected archeological site and the top attraction. Since the new town of Saint Pierre Martinique is being built around the old St. Pierre ruins, the ruins can be seen along a walk throughout the entire village. The top must-see of all the ruins is the old jail, called the cachot de Cyparis, where the sole survivor of the eruption was kept. Some of the other, best preserved ruins are called the Le Figuier and are found inside the Volcano Museum. The museum features a detailed account of the Mount Pelee eruption and showcases many items that were salvaged from both the harbor and the surrounding area.
In St Pierre there are a few different Martinique hotels and some small villas to choose from for accommodation. Along the waterfront there are a few beaches that accommodate boggy boarders and surfers. Swimming isn’t advisable as the ocean tides can become very rough. There are also several charming local markets, interesting stores for shopping, and great Creole dining along the main strip. St Pierre offers the history of one of the most fascinating and destructive natural disasters in the Caribbean along with the charm of picturesque surroundings in a village born for the second time around.
