2 Best Sights in Martinique

Get a glimpse into Martinique's colonial past at this estate and rum distillery, the site of a former sugar cane plantation. Visitors are given a multilingual audio headset, which explains tour highlights. Signage further describes the rum-making process and other aspects of plantation life. The Palm Grove, with an avenue of palms and park benches, is a delightful place to reflect; the contemporary sculpture is fascinating. It was all built with the wealth generated by its rum distillery, and its 18th-century splendor has been lovingly preserved. The plantation's Creole house illustrates the adaption to life in the tropics up through the 20th century. An early French typewriter, a crank-up telephone, and decades-old photos of the Cléments and Hayots (béké families), are juxtaposed with modern Afro-Caribbean art. The newest building houses an art gallery that showcases contemporary, Caribbean art, and sculpture. Enjoy the free tastings at the bar of the retail shop. Consider the Canne Bleu, Grappe Blanche, or one of the aged rums, some bottled as early as 1952.

Children get a discount. Also, allow 1½–2 hours to see everything. The ticket office closes at 5.

Fort St-Louis (pronounced lou-EE) is an imposing stone fortress that has guarded the island’s principal port city since the 17th century. Originally carved out from a rocky promontory jutting out into the Bay of Fort-de-France, Fort St-Louis towers nearly 200 feet over the city at its highest point, affording visitors panoramic views of the surrounding seaside urban landscape. A view-experience and photo op, with a spyglass, one could see any threatening warships coming for miles in advance. Guided tours are available in English, French, Spanish, and Italian. Walking shoes are recommended. Visitors must first check-in at the Office of Tourism, on 29 rue Victor Hugo.