Bas-du-Fort / Capitainerie (Pointe-à-Pitre/Le Gosier)

Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe, France)

Pointe-à-Pitre is the main port and commercial town of Guadeloupe. A lively urban center on Grande-Terre, it combines maritime activities, colorful markets and historical memory. Its urban fabric reflects a history of trading posts and exchanges at the crossroads of the Caribbean. The town also serves as a gateway to neighboring islands and the archipelago’s beaches.

Heritage and history

The market district retains an old-fashioned atmosphere where merchants and artisans meet. The Schoelcher Museum displays objects evoking colonial history and abolitionist movements. The industrial coastline and the port testify to Pointe-à-Pitre’s role as a commercial hub since the 19th century.

Culture and museums

The town hosts cultural institutions that explore history and memory. The ACTe Memorial is a major center dedicated to the history of slavery and Caribbean cultures. Galleries, small stages and events punctuate cultural life; Creole music and dance are omnipresent.

Architecture and districts

You can see a juxtaposition of colonial buildings, art deco shops and modern structures. The Place de la Victoire and the surrounding shopping streets offer typical and colorful façades. Urban density contrasts with narrow lanes and the seafront.

Gastronomy and market atmospheres

The Central Market offers tropical fruits, spices, fish and local specialties such as accras and bokit. There are also distilleries and rum bars where local productions can be discovered. Flavors are bold and closely linked to seafood and products from Creole gardens.

Not to miss

• Central Market — for the atmosphere, fresh produce and crafts.
• ACTe Memorial — exhibition and reflection on slavery and its legacies.
• Schoelcher Museum — collections related to Antillean history.
• Place de la Victoire — commercial heart and starting point for a stroll.
• Seafront / la Darse — promenade and views of port activity.