Fodor's Expert Review Musée Volcanologique Franck Perret

For those interested in Mount Pelée's eruption of 1902, the Musée Vulcanologique Franck Perret is a must. It was established in 1933 by Franck Perret, a noted American volcanologist. Small but fascinating and insightful, the museum houses photographs of the old town before and after the eruption, documents, and a number of relics—some gruesome—excavated from the ashy ruins, including molten glass, melted iron, the church bell, and contorted clocks stopped at 8 am. The 30-minute film is a good way to begin. An English-speaking guide is often available and may tell you that the next lava flow is expected within 50 years. (No wonder the price of real estate in St-Pierre is among the lowest on the island.)