La Savane

La Savane Review

The heart of Fort-de-France, La Savane is a 12½-acre park filled with trees, fountains, and benches. It was a popular gathering place and the scene of promenades, parades, and impromptu soccer matches; and it has now been beautifully renovated to its former glory. Its urban decay has been eradicated. This urban park has undergone a massive revitalization, completed in late 2010. It is a focal point of the city again, with entertainment and shopping and a pedestrian mall. Attractive wooden stands have been constructed along the edge of the park that house a tourism information office, public restrooms, arts and crafts vendors, a crepe stand, and an ice-cream parlor. Diagonally across from La Savane, you can catch the ferries for the 20-minute run across the bay to Pointe du Bout and the beaches at Anse-Mitan and Anse-à-l'Ane. It's relatively cheap as well as stress-free—much safer, more pleasant, and faster than by car.

The most imposing historic site in Fort-de-France is Ft. St-Louis, which runs along the east side of La Savane. It is no longer open to the public, as it is now functioning as a military installation.