Christopher Columbus was the first European to set foot in Guadeloupe. He was on his second trip to the Americas, and set foot on the island, seeking fresh water. Columbus christened the island Santa Maria de Guadalupe de Extremadura, named after the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe.
It was the French however, who were the first European settlers in the island. In the year 1635, the French landed in the island of Basse-Terre and claimed Guadeloupe for France. They drove the native Caribs off the island, established agriculture in the islands and soon, Guadeloupe had its first sugar mill. The island was officially annexed by France in 1674.
Britain made several attempts in invading Guadeloupe. They were able to develop Pointe-à-Pitre into a major harbor, which opened the island to trading with North America and Europe. It was also due to this that Guadeloupean businesses were able to import cheap raw materials and food from America. Guadeloupe reverted back to French rule in 1753 upon the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Guadeloupe is one of France’s 26 regions (as an overseas region). Guadeloupe’s currency is the euro, since it’s considered as part of the European Union. However, Guadeloupe is not part of the Schengen Agreement.
Guadeloupe has five islands: Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, La Désirade, Les Saintes and Marie-Galante. The two largest islands, Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre is separated by a very narrow channel. While these two islands are roughly of the same size, their terrain couldn’t be more different. Basse-Terre is rough and rugged owing to volcanic relief. Grande-Terre on the otherhand seemed smooth and seamless with its rolling hills and flat plains.
Tropical weather welcomes visitors to Guadeloupe, averaging at 80F (26C). Due to the differences between the two main islands, temperatures in each also vary. Basse-Terre is cooler and gets more rain than Grande-Terre. Guadeloupe’s wettest months are between July and November, which is also the hurricane season.
There is a strong French and African influence in Guadeloupe’s culture as evident in their cuisine and language. Many notable Guadeloupeans excelled in the field of the arts and literature.
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September 7th, 2007 at 9:13 am
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