Fort Louis
Fort Louis (Saint Martin) — Overlooking Marigot Bay and with views across to Anguilla, Fort Louis was built in 1789 by the people of Marigot under the command of Jean Sébastien de Durat, then governor of Saint Martin and Saint Barths on behalf of the French Crown. The primary purpose of the fort was to defend the warehouses at Marigot port, where produce such as salt, coffee, sugar cane and rum was stored. Subsequently abandoned, Fort Louis fell into ruins. The fort was restored in the 19th Century but abandoned a second time. During this period the fort also witnessed struggles between the French and the English, the latter landing on a regular basis from Anguilla to loot the warehouses. Since 1993, restoration and redevelopment works have been undertaken under the auspices of the Hope Estate archeological association, in close collaboration with adapted military service units (SMA) from Guadeloupe.
Bilingual information panels provide visitors with a cultural history of the site, which offers breathtaking views over Marigot, Simpson Bay Lagoon, Simpson Bay, Anguilla, the Terres Basses and Baie Nettlé. The large building at the foot of the Fort on the side of the mountain houses the” sous préfecture”. To get to Fort Louis, take the steps from the “sous préfecture” car park. Contact : 05 90 29 22 84