Caribbean and Central America Travel

As an overseas territory of France, Martinique is “a little bit of France in the Caribbean Islands.” Martinique has a splendid blend of the French and the Caribbean in its culture, language (Antillean Creole or Créole Martiniquais), music and cuisine.

First sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1493, Martinique’s original inhabitants were the Carib Indians. It wasn’t until 1635 that the first European settled in the island, Frenchman Pierre Belan d’Esnambuc. It was d’Esnambuc’s nephew, Jacques-Dyel du Parquet who developed the island into a rich and wealthy colony. Martinique formally became a French colony in 1658.

During a string of wars and uprisings, Martinique fell into the British rule: during the Seven Year’s War, during the French Revolutionary Wars and during the Napoleonic Wars. Eventually, the island reverted back to the French crown.

Probably Martinique’s most well-known resident was Josephine, Napoleon’s wife. Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de la Pagerie was from an elite Creole family in Martinique. Her marriage to Napoleon Bonaparte made her the first French Empress.

With attractions and establishments that caters to all budgets and tastes, this Caribbean island has become a popular vacation destination for all kinds of travelers. French products and brands are easily available in the island, from French pastries to French couture.

As a French overseas territory, Martinique, like Guadeloupe, uses the euro as its official currency for trade. US & Canada passport holders do not need to apply for a visa to enter Martinique, provided they only stay in the island for less than 90 days. Passport holders of other countries may need to apply for French visa to enter Martinique.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 19th, 2007 at 3:57 pm and is filed under Caribbean, Martinique. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.