Fort Napoléon des Saintes, Military fortress in Terre-de-Haut, France.
The fortification stands on Morne Mire hill, featuring thick stone walls, bastions, and a strategic position overlooking the Caribbean Sea waters.
Built between 1845 and 1849 upon the ruins of Fort Louis, this fortress underwent additional construction from 1857 to 1867 under Emperor Napoleon III.
The fort houses the Museum of Saintes History, presenting collections about the Caribbean islands and regional military developments through different periods.
Visitors can explore the military architecture, casemates, gunpowder stores, prison cells, and walk through the botanical garden during morning opening hours.
The fortress served as a political prison between 1940 and 1942, holding notable figures including the resistance member Paul Valentino during World War II.
Location: Terre-de-Haut
GPS coordinates: 15.87500,-61.58250
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:42
Guadeloupe has many surprises beyond its main beaches and usual tourist sites. The archipelago hosts places where nature and history come together: waterfalls hidden in the rainforest such as Acomat in Pointe-Noire, spectacular geological formations like the Gullet Grand Gouffre in Marie-Galante where sea jets reach over ten meters high, or beaches with distinct features like Anse du Souffleur in Port-Louis with its calm, shallow waters, or Cluny Beach in Sainte-Rose lined with dark volcanic rocks. These lesser-known sites also tell the story of the archipelago. The Slave Trails in Petit-Canal, carved into stone in 1830, bear witness to the island’s painful past. Fort Fleur d'Épée in Gosier, built in the 18th century, offers views over the bay and preserves its old artillery pieces. The Historic Coffee Plantation in Vieux-Habitants showcases the stages of colonial coffee production with its historic water mill. On the natural side, Petite Terre Nature Reserve near La Désirade protects two islands where sea turtles and dozens of fish species live among coral reefs. These sites encourage discovering a different side of Guadeloupe, away from the typical routes.
Roches gravées de Trois-Rivières
13 km
Pain de sucre
2.1 km
Phare et batterie de Vieux-Fort
15.7 km
Pompierre Beach
1.3 km
Cascade de La coulisse
11.7 km
Notre Dame de l'Assomption, les Saintes
928 m
Plage de Pompierre
1.3 km
Plage de Grande Anse
13.4 km
Poterie de Terre-de-Bas
5 km
Sitio arqueológico de Anse des Galets
11.8 km
Habitation Belleville
13.2 km
Jardin exotique du Fort Napoléon
22 m
Morel, les Saintes
1.2 km
Four à chaux de Trois-Rivières
13.5 km
Église de Vieux-Fort
14.8 km
Faro del Puerto de Les Saintes
742 m
Morne à Craie
1.8 km
Parc Archéologique des Roches Gravées
12.3 km
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Trois-Rivières
13 km
Trois-Rivières Lighthouse
12.5 km
Plage du Pain de Sucre
2.2 km
Rivière du Petit Garbet
11.7 km
Plage de Salée-Bananier
14 km
Morne Sec
5.8 km
Plage d'Anse Crawen
2.9 km
Chapelle de l'Immaculée-Conception de Trois-Rivières
12.2 km
Plage de l'Anse à la Fontaine
15.9 km
Plage de l'Anse à Dos
7.3 kmReviews
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very interesting, but it is mainly the absolutely stunning view of the Saintes..!
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