Camp des Hattes, Historical military camp in Awala-Yalimapo, French Guiana.
Camp des Hattes is a historical penitentiary complex in Awala-Yalimapo situated where the Mana and Maroni rivers meet the Atlantic Ocean, with two main colonial-era buildings visible in the landscape. The structures stand within a broad river valley covered in dense vegetation, showing how the facility was organized as a secure compound.
The site was established in 1858 as an outpost of the central penitentiary at Saint-Laurent du Maroni, primarily for farming operations and housing prisoners. After 1900, it transitioned to serve as a sanatorium for those suffering from tropical illnesses.
The place tells the story of interactions between guards, prisoners, and indigenous communities who lived and worked in this remote location over generations. The remnants show how different groups coexisted and shaped the society that developed there.
The site is located in a remote area of French Guiana, so visits require advance planning and checking access conditions beforehand. Travel is easiest during drier months when the terrain is more passable.
The buildings were officially registered as Historical Monuments in 2015, and one structure is planned to become an Interpretation Center called Maison des Estuaires. This transformation reflects growing efforts to preserve the colonial history of the region as part of public remembrance.
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