15 Best Sights in Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe

For the higher-stakes gambling at this casino, you'll have to change at least €100 into chips to be part of the action. The blackjack limit, though, is €10. Slot machines open at 10 am and shut down at 4 am. Locals love this place and jam the parking lot on weekends. (It is within walking distance of most properties in the hotel zone.) Casino de Gosier has a bar and a well-priced buffet restaurant that is open from Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. The bar can really crank up on Saturday nights or holidays, with sexy island girls in brief silver lamé costumes dispensing free Champagne. Local bands sometimes add to the energy. You will need to bring your passport, or you won't get past the checkpoint; the legal gambling age is 21.

If you're fascinated by churches, then stop by the imposing Cathédrale de St-Pierre et St-Paul, built in 1807. Although it has been battered by hurricanes over the years, it has fine stained-glass windows and Creole-style balconies.

Gosier was still a tiny village in the 1950s, a simple stopping place between Pointe-à-Pitre and Ste-Anne. However, it grew rapidly in the 1960s, when the beauty of the southern coastline began to bring tourists in ever-increasing numbers. Today Gosier is one of Guadeloupe's premier tourist areas while at the same time serving as a chic suburb of Pointe-à-Pitre. People sit at sidewalk cafés reading Le Monde as others flip-flop their way to the beach. This resort town has several hotels, nightclubs, shops, a casino, rental car agencies, and a long stretch of sand.

The waves on this Atlantic beach give the long expanse of sand a wild look. The beach is protected by an extensive coral reef, which makes it safe for children. Farther out, the waves draw surfers and windsurfers. From its location right in the town of Moule, you can stroll along a seaside promenade fringed by flamboyant trees (also known as flame trees). Many shade trees offer protection, the swaying coconut palms are photogenic, and sidewalk cafés provide sustenance. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

On the Atlantic coast, and once the capital city of Guadeloupe, this port city of 24,000 has had more than its share of troubles: it was bombarded by the British in 1794 and 1809 and by a hurricane in 1928. An important tourist center in past decades, it's experiencing a comeback. A large East Indian population, which originally came to cut cane, lives here. Canopies of flamboyant trees hang over the narrow streets, where colorful vegetable and fish markets do a brisk business. The town hall, with graceful balustrades, and a small 19th-century neoclassical church are on the main square. Le Moule's beach, protected by a reef, is perfect for windsurfing.

This agricultural town of about 16,000 people has a cemetery shaped like an amphitheater, with black-and-white-checkerboard tombs, elaborate epitaphs, and multicolor (plastic) flowers. On All Saints' Day (November 1), it's the scene of a moving (and photogenic) candlelight service.

This museum is a labor of love by its creators. Seeing the dress of black, white, and métisseé (mixed-race, or "maroon") societies is a fascinating way to visualize the island's tumultuous history and fascinating heritage. Items that you will remember: madras headdresses, baptism outfits, embroidered maternity dresses, colonial pith helmets, and other various chapeaux, as well as the doll collection. Make sure to go out back and visit the replica of a Guadeloupean case circa 1920. A film depicts life of yesteryear. The small museum is privately owned; the founder, Camelia Bausivoir, is a retired English teacher and can act as your guide. The collection was accrued over decades, and Bausivoir sewed many of the costumes. Call for directions before you go and also to make sure that a school group is not there.

For a delightful day trip to the northern coast of Grande-Terre, aim for this spot—one of the loveliest white-sand beaches, whose gentle mid-afternoon waves are popular with families. The beach is shaded by coconut palms, you can explore the ruins of a chapel, and the sea kayaking is excellent. When the tide rolls in, the beach is equally popular with surfers. Several little terrace restaurants are at the far end of the beach, but you might want to bring your own mat or beach towel; no one rents chaise longues. The town has remained relatively undeveloped. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; sunrise; sunset; surfing; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Except on Sunday, this long stretch of wild beach—framed by dramatic cliffs—is often completely deserted in the morning or early afternoon. By 4 pm, though, you might find 70 or so young surfers. Many locals take their young children here, but use caution with your own; the current can be strong. The beach has no facilities of its own, but you can get lunch and drinks nearby at the hotel Le Relais du Moulin. To get here, follow the signs to the hotel and pass by, heading right toward the sea to a dirt road down to the beach. Amenities: none. Best for: partiers; solitude; surfing; swimming; walking.

A National Grand Site, the island's easternmost point offers a breathtaking view of the Atlantic crashing against huge rocks, carving them into shapes resembling pyramids. A rocky arm reaching out to the ocean, this spot is a spectacular display of sea versus land. A nine-ton crucifix can be seen for miles out at sea and was erected for the centennial of the Catholic diocese in 1946. There are spectacular views of Guadeloupe's southern and eastern coasts and the island of La Désirade. The beach has few facilities now that most vendors have been relocated to Petit Anse Kahouanne, about a mile up the road; so bring your own food and drink. The Village Artisanal is open every day, and taxis run every hour in high season.

This secluded strip just before the tip of Pointe des Châteaux is the island's only nude beach. (Technically, nude sunbathing is not allowed by French law.) Small bar-cafés are in the parking area, but it's still best to bring some water, snacks, and beach chairs (there's no place to rent them). What you do have is one of the coast's most dramatic landscapes; rugged cliffs, topped by a huge crucifix, loom over the beach. When approaching St-François Marina, go in the direction of Pointe des Châteaux at the roundabout and drive for about 10 minutes. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: partiers; solitude; sunset; swimming; walking.

This fishing village of about 7,000 people on the northwestern coast of Grand-Terre is best known for Plage du Souffleur. The beach is one of the island's prettiest. Although crowded on weekends, the beach is blissfully quiet during the week. The sand is fringed by flamboyant trees, and there are also spectacular views of Basse-Terre.

This was once a simple little village, primarily involved with fishing and harvesting tomatoes. The fish and tomatoes are still here, as are the old creole houses and the lively market with recommendable food stalls in the centre ville, but increasingly, the St-François marina district is overtaking Gosier as Guadeloupe's most fashionable tourist resort area. Its avenue de l'Europe runs between the marina and the fairways and water obstacles of the municipal golf course, which was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. On the marina side is a string of shops (including a huge supermarket), hotels, bars, and restaurants. The Bwa Chik Hotel & Golf, an eco-chic study in recyclable materials, is a favorite with golfers. Other attractions include an array of beaches, a lagoon, and the St-François casino. St-François was designated as a Station Balnéaire (nautical resort) by the French government. With its 220-slip marina, it's a sailing mecca and a departure point for catamaran day sails to the out islands, which are in close proximity.

In the 18th century this town, 8 miles (13 km) east of Gosier, was a sugar-exporting center. Sand has replaced sugar as the town's most valuable asset. La Caravelle and the other beaches are among the best in Guadeloupe. On its main drag, which parallels the waterfront, is a lively group of inexpensive eateries, shops, and artisan stalls. On a more spiritual note, Ste-Anne has a lovely cemetery with stark-white tombs.

The Factory is a concept store located in Pointe à Pitre. It's the perfect place to discover the history, the culture, the gastronomy and buy souvenirs made in "Gwadeloup". They sell "Akiyo" (Guadeloupe's mythical carnival band) T-shirts. For the exhibitions and special events, it's best to check their website before.  The Factory also offers tours of the capital in TUK TUK. The owner, who lived in England for a few years, speaks English.