Beach and azure waters on St. Barts Radio St. Barthélemy

MARIE-GALANTE

Named after Columbus' flagship, the Maria Galanda, this is the largest island dependent on Guadeloupe, and is accessible by ferryboat from Saint-François or Pointe-à-Pitre — or by airplane (see map). Although the climate is rather dry, the luxuriant vegetation has made her the home of sugar cane and subsequently of rum distilling. Visitors who wish to sample some of the best rums should beware of their livers: these native concoctions may be up to 59° proof!

SAINT-MARTIN

Saint-Martin, one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea (see map), lies about 240 km (150 mi.) northeast of Guadeloupe, 250 km (155 mi.) east of Puerto Rico. The area is 86 km² (33 mi²). The northern portion of the island (1990 pop., 28,518) is administered from Basse-Terre on Guadeloupe as a part of France's overseas territories. Its capital and principal town is Marigot. The southern section (1993 est. pop., 35,841) — called Sint Maarten — is administered as a part of the Netherlands Antilles from Philipsburg, located on the island.

Tourism, salt extraction, sugarcane and cotton cultivation, rum distilling, raising livestock, and commercial fishing form the basis of the economy. Originally settled by Carib Indians, the island was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and settled by the Spanish in 1640. In 1648, French and Dutch prisoners of war supposedly partitioned the island as it is today.

ST-BARTHELEMY

Baie de St. Jean on St. Barts: All beaches in the French West Indies are top- optional and several are clothing- optional as well. Note the "SB" which connotes a St. Barts license plate.

St-Barthélemy, a volcanic land mass of only 8 square miles (see map), was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and was named after his brother Bartolomeo. The native Carib Indians ferociously resisted all attempts by the Europeans to settle on the island. In 1648, a failed colonization attempt was made by French settlers from St. Kitts. A few determined peasants from Brittany and Normandy survived the resistance and in 1660 a second attempt at settlement was successful.

In 1673 the island became a part of France and a part of the government of Guadeloupe. By 1687, St. Barth had a population of 500. In 1784 Sweden's King Gustav III was given the island by Louis XVI of France in exchange for a warehouse in Göteberg Harbor and in 1785 Gustav declared the island a free port. Swedish settlers arrived and the island prospered as commercial traffic transited through the newly named harbor of Gustavia.

The 19th century was not kind to St. Barth — or St. Barts, as it is also called. Numerous misfortunes including hurricanes, droughts, yellow fever epidemics, and a disastrous fire descended upon the island. As steam power replaced wind, ships were able to take more direct routes to and from American ports, bypassing St. Barth.

Ridding itself of an increasingly heavy economic burden, Sweden sold the island back to France in 1878 for 320,000 francs. Provisions of this agreement required the island remain duty free and that the population never pay taxes!

Many of the local inhabitants are descendants of the early settlers from Brittany and Normandy and their language still reflects traces of the Norman French. The Swedish influence remains to this day as does the distinction of being a duty free port.

With the landing of the first plane, a two-seater flown by Rémy de Haenan, tourism was able to develop. However, the airstrip, even today, is not large enough to handle jetliners bringing an onslaught of visitors.

Guadeloupe Links

Arts & Literature of the Islands — Île en Île Thomas C. Spear, Professor of French at the Lehman College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY), in collaboration with numerous colleagues and academicians worldwide, hosts this invaluable collection of francophone resources. It covers not only the Carribbean islands, but also those situated in the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean.

Book A Hotel on St. Barth This laid-back, friendly island will tempt you with its beautiful white sands, azure waters, and relaxed atmosphere! Visit the Discover France Travel Center, where you can check prices and availability for your travel dates, then book your stay online.

CIA World Factbook: Guadeloupe Extensive statistics on the region's geography, people, government, economy, communications infrastructure, transportation, and military.

The Civilized Explorer: St. Barth, the Friendly Isle Hosted by Phil Stripling, this site takes a relaxing tour of St. Barth's beaches, dining, and sporting activities.

Conseil Régional de Guadeloupe Currently only offered in French, the site provides an overview of the region's history, culture, economy, and news — sprinkled with many colorful photos.

Diving and Snorkeling Sites With its rocks, corals, octopus and multi-colored fish, the Cousteau Underwater Park in the waters off Pigeon Island is a garden of enchantment, rated as one of the world's best diving sites. Snorkeling equipment and guided excursions are arranged at most island hotels.

Foreign Entry Requirements The Federal Consumer Information Center offers information on passport and visa requirements for the French West Indies.

François de Grasse: The Battle of the Saintes On April 12, 1782, the French Admiral's fleet was rather soundly defeated by the British Admiral Sir George Rodney, in a raging battle off the coast of Îsles des Saintes.

Guadeloupe-Direct Site hosted by Carribbean-Direct offers numerous helpful tips on getting around, sightseeing tours, renting a car or boat, sports, restaurants, local culture, and nightlife. Individual chapters devoted to Îsles des Saintes, Marie-Galante, Saint-Martin, and St. Barth.

Guadeloupe Photos Created by Erwan and Stéphane Courtial, this site serves up an impressive array of photos, showing not only landscapes and aerial views of various islands, but also an extensive representation of flora and fauna.

Marie-Galante Tourist Board Just 9.3 mi. (15 km) across, Marie-Galante offers explorers a palette of landscapes and diversified culture. Take a virtual tour and learn the history of this island, the first discovered by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage, and named after his flagship, Maria Galanda.

Municipality of Le Moule Situated on the eastern shore of Grand-Terre, Le Moule was once Guadeloupe's most important harbor, until it was eclipsed by Pointe-à-Pitre. Today, after rebuilding from the devastation of Hurricane Hugo (September 1989), Le Moule is home to Guadeloupe's one remaining sugar refinery. The area offers splendid beaches and a variety of sporting and cultural activities. (site in French & English)

Municipality of Saint-François Forming a kind of triangle at the eastern point of Grande-Terre (south of Le Moule), Saint-François is named after the patron saint of the Capuchine Missionaries, who established the parish of Châteaux here in 1683. The variety of landscapes, offering breathtaking views of the islands of La Désirade and Marie-Galante, make this region very attractive to tourists. (site in French & English)

Open Directory Project: Guadeloupe The non-profit, human-compiled database provides useful links about Guadeloupe, in both English and French.

Recipes of Guadeloupe and the Antilles Interested in serving up authentic dishes, or concocting regional beverages, using ingredients from the islands? Saveurs du Monde offers an excellent selection of recipes (in French), plus overviews of the many fruits and vegetables found on Guadeloupe.

St. Barths Online Peter O'Keefe, a New Englander who was transplanted to St. Barth in 1978, maintains this comprehensive, illustrated guide to one of the French West Indies' most unique islands.

Tan'noo! l'Annuaire Internet des Antilles This handy portal (in French only) provides links to a wealth of information on Guadeloupe, Martinique, the Antilles, and French Guiana. Includes references for arts & culture, commerce, education, entertainment, geography, health, history, literature, news, politics, science, sports, and much more.

Taxiing Guadeloupe Errol Laborde, editor of New Orleans Magazine and Louisiana Life Magazine, wrote this article for France Today, in which he describes the great wisdom that taxi drivers can impart to an attentive visitor.

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