{"id":49027,"date":"2019-09-15T23:34:37","date_gmt":"2019-09-16T06:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/soulofamerica.com\/?page_id=49027"},"modified":"2023-02-05T14:13:24","modified_gmt":"2023-02-05T22:13:24","slug":"st-maarten-attractions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.soulofamerica.com\/international\/st-maarten\/st-maarten-attractions\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Maarten Attractions"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Marigot

Marigot seen from Fort Louis<\/strong>; (c) Soul Of America<\/p><\/div>\n

St. Maarten\/St. Martin Attractions<\/h2>\n

St. Martin<\/strong>
\nMarigot, the cosmopolitan capital of the French side, is home to all the local government departments. Here, boutiques and trendy restaurants sit side-by-side with traditional stalls. Don\u2019t miss the colors, aromas, and buzz of the local market. A former fishing village, Grand-Case has a unique Creole charm. Along its magnificent bay, you will find a large number of restaurants in traditional huts and wattle houses.<\/p>\n

Marigot<\/strong>
\nAs the capital of the French side, Marigot owes its name to the many swamps or marigots that used to occupy the zone. Marigot grew rapidly over the 18th century thanks to sugar cane production and became the capital of the French part. In 1970, the partial land-filling of a lagoon enabled the extension of the village. Another land-filling project in 1990 facilitated the construction of the road alongside the waterfront. Today, an inviting waterfront promenade an open-air market, and shops under the tropical sun. Now the headquarters of St. Martin and St. Barths, Marigot is home to all the local government departments of this French territory. Visitors will love discovering restored Creole houses, often next to luxury boutiques. One of Marigot\u2019s main streets, Rue de la R\u00e9publique boasts 19th-century traditional facades that have for the most part retained their architectural authenticity. The ground floors of these dwellings are of stone and lime mortar construction, while the first floors are wooden and built using traditional house construction methods. Facades face the street and have at least one upstairs gallery decorated with friezes.<\/p>\n

Marigot Catholic Church<\/strong>
\nBuilt on Fort Louis road, the church was constructed in 1941. Before then, Catholics found themselves in the minority and had no place of worship. That year, Father Wall took up office in St. Martin and initiated the construction of Marigot\u2019s Church. He also masterminded the construction of Grand Case Church, which was built at roughly the same time using the same stone and lime technique. In 1971, the presbytery was added to the Marigot Church, and other extensions followed the enhance this island landmark.<\/p>\n

Marigot Market<\/strong>
\nStalls manned by locals selling fruit and vegetables, spices, local meats, and fresh fish caught that day are housed under huts along the waterfront. Artists and vendors lay out their wares Monday-Saturday allowing visitors to sample the full range of flavored rums, fruits, spices, and shrubs (orange peel crushed into rum). Opposite the traditional restaurants adjoining the local market, a magnificent stone statue commemorates black female market sellers. In 2006, as part of a series of events for black history week, a fresco again commemorating female market sellers was painted on a wall opposite the market. There\u2019s a drink to suit every visitor. <\/p>\n

Fort Louis<\/strong>
\nOverlooking Marigot Bay and with views across to Anguilla, Fort Louis was built in 1789 under the command of the governor of St. Martin and St. 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. <\/p>\n

Spring Sugar Mill<\/strong>
\nThe mill takes its name from a spring that was located nearby. Sugar production was started at the factory in 1772 by traders from Guadeloupe. For a century, the factory produced a significant amount of sugar and rum. Remains of the sugar plant can still be seen, including the large round limestone chimney and the animal-driven mill where you can still catch a glimpse of the grindstones used to crush the sugar cane. Other remains are visible here, too, including the purgerie, and the furnace, where there were four great boilers, a still oven, and a tank. <\/p>\n

Saint Jean Plantation<\/strong>
\nThe ruins of the 1772 plantation of Saint Jean can be seen from the main road out of Marigot towards Philipsburg. In 1795, revolutionaries from Guadeloupe sequestered the sugar factory. The plantation continued until the French abolition of slavery in 1848, at which time the Saint James sugar plantation was sold off in small lots, while the Saint Jean plantation remained in its original state. Sugar production stopped in 1860 and the buildings fell into ruins. Among the ruins are a two-tier animal-powered mill, sugar mill, and a purgerie where the sugar was refined. <\/p>\n

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