Fort-de-France Tours

Fort-de-France is the capital of Martinique. With a population of 134,727 inhabitants, it is also one of the major cities in the Caribbean. Exports include sugar, rum, tinned fruit, and cacao. Fort-de-France lies on the island's west coast at the northern entrance to the large Fort-de-France Bay, at the mouth of the Madame River. Originally named Fort-Royal, the administrative capital of Martinique was over-shadowed by Saint-Pierre, the oldest city in the island, which was renowned for its commercial and cultural vibrancy as "The Paris of the Caribbean". Fort-de-France became economically important after the volcanic eruption of Mount Pelée destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre in 1902.