Saint Pierre area

This was one of my favorite days in Martinique. We drove to the west side of the island, where you can see the old capital of Martinique which was destroyed by a volcano eruption in 1902. Most people died in the eruption, except for several inmates who were saved by the thick walls of the jail. It's a very interesting area and one of the prettiest in Martinique.

We were told of an "easy hike" to a view of Saint Pierre and Mont Pelée. Exhausted and drenched in sweat, we finally reached the top...


The town of Saint Pierre



The nearby Gauguin museum. Gauguin lived in Carbet, near Saint Pierre, for about a year and painted some of his most famous paintings there. I was disappointed that the museum was closed because I really like Gauguin.

A building destroyed during that Mont Pelée eruption.


The old theater, which was destroyed. The jail was just to the left. Apparently Barnum and Bailey hired the inmate survivors.