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| Basse-Terre | ||
| region | Guadeloupe | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 10.046 (2018) | |
| height | 0 - 164 | |
no value for height on Wikidata:  | ||
| Tourist information Tel | (0)590 860581 | |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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Basse-Terre (creole: Bastè) is a community in Guadeloupe and the capital of the region and département. It is located in the southwest of the island of the same name.
background
The first settlers went there under the leadership of Duplessis and l`Olive ashore on June 28, 1635. Two years later, Dominican monks settled on behalf of the Compagnie des Isles d'Amérique and tried to proselytize the Indians. Basse-Terre became governor in 1643 Charles Houel founded as a military base and is one of the oldest French colonial cities. In 1650 the first fortifications were built under the name Fort Houel, these were the beginnings of Fort Delgrès. Already in 1670 the place was the largest settlement on the island with 370 inhabitants. It was destroyed by fire in 1681 and 1691. In 1696 there were again 260 buildings.
In 1702, during the Seven Years' War between 1760-1763 and 1794, the city was in British hands. In 1802 there were serious clashes between the troops of General Richepance and the local militaria under the leadership of the mulatto Colonel Delgrès. On May 28, 1802 he blew himself up on the Habitation d´Anglemont near Matouba with 200 faithful so as not to have to surrender to the Napoleonic troops.
As a precautionary measure, the city had to be evacuated several times because of the fear of an eruption of the La Soufriere volcano. For this reason, the administration was relocated in 1976. One part was settled in Baie-Mahault and the other part in Pointe-à-Pitre. Nevertheless, the city is still the capital of the region and the département. Since then, however, more and more commercial enterprises have withdrawn from the region.
The Soufrière volcano
Since Columbus rediscovered the island, there have been repeated eruptions of the volcano. In 1797-1798, 1836-1837, 1956 and between June 1975 and March 1977, some prolonged activities were recorded. On August 16, 1975, there was an explosion at the summit of the volcano, during which tremors were registered, which reached a value of 4.63 on the Richter scale, which is open at the top. The rising magma comes into contact with the groundwater, which leads to steam explosions in the superheated water. Gases escape and ashes and rocks are thrown up, viscous lava escapes.
The main volcano La Soufrière, from which sulfur fumes constantly escape, is 1467 m high. The top 300 m is like a truncated cone with a diameter of approx. 900 m at the base and 400 m at the summit. In the southeast is the 1103 m high old volcanic crater La Citerne. In the northwest belongs the 1414 m high Carmichael and on the other side of the mountain the 1397 m high Col de l´Echelle to this ensemble.
getting there
By plane
The Baillif regional airport is located directly northwest of Basse-Terre on the other bank of the Rivière des Péres.
In the street
The city center consists of a tangle of right-angled, narrow streets. The national road 2 runs as Boulevard du Général de Gaulle parallel to the sea. In recent years, however, with a lot of money from the EU, a motorway-like, intersection-free city bypass was created about 1 km from the sea Rocade built.
By boat
In the center of the city you will find the port facilities with immigration and customs authorities. Cruise ships are very rare here. Mainly freight is landed there, but there is also a ferry connection to Terre-de-Haut on the archipelago Les Saintes.
- The ferry company CTM Dreher runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from Basse-Terre to Terre-de-Haut. The journey time is 30 minutes, the fare for a one-way trip is € 18 for a return trip of € 25. Departures from Basse-Terre at 12.15 p.m.
- The Brudey Freres shipping company sails from Basse-Terre to Terre-de-Haut on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The journey time is 30 minutes, the fare for the one-way trip is € 17 for a return trip € 24. Departures from Basse-Terre at 12.30 p.m.
Tourist Attractions
Churches, mosques, synagogues, temples
- 1 Notre-Dame du Mont Carmel (église Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel de Basse-Terre), allée du Mont-Carmel.
A pilgrimage always takes place there on July 16.
- cathedral. Construction began in 1736, with an impressive facade that gives the impression that the building is 200 years older.
Castles, chateaux and palaces
- 2 Fort Louis Delgrès (fort Delgrès). Tel.: (0)590 813748.Originally named Fort Royal, Fort Richepance and Fort Saint-Charles, on 5 hectares. Historical Museum. Between 1643 and 1650, a defensive tower was first built on the ledge at the mouth of the Rivière Galion by order of Governor Charles Houel. In the following decades, the complex was provided with trenches, parapets and bastions and expanded into a star-shaped fortress. In 1702, Father Jean-Baptiste Labat was also involved in the extension. However, the area was too narrow on the sea side and sloped there. It was a good target for any ship's cannon, which enabled the English to occupy the fort in 1759. There are also the graves of General Richepance and Admiral Gourbeyre. Until 1950 some rooms served as living quarters for NCOs. The historical museum was later housed in a restored barracks. The building has been included in the list of historical monuments since 1977.Open: daily 9 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.
Streets and squares
- Place du Champ d'Arbaud. Large esplanade with some old colonial houses and a war memorial, seat of the regional administration.
- La Place du Soldeur. The place where the guillotine stood during the French Revolution.
Parks
- Jardin Botanique. The botanical garden was created around 1881 and can have a rare tree population. The agricultural and forestry administration is located in the back of the garden.
various
- Hotel de Ville. A 19th century building, city administration.
- prefecture, Palais d'Orleans. A representative building from 1935.
activities
Marina
- Marina Rivière Sens. Tel.: (0)590 817761, Fax: (0)590 900001. There are two restaurants, a bar and shops there. The marina is 2½ km from the center / pier of Basse-Terre, southeast of the center, on the other side of the Rivière Le Galion river.
hikes
Basse-Terre is the starting point for many trips and hikes to the Soufriere volcano and the national part in the heights of the center of the island.
Diving
shop
- Center Commercial Cora. Cora supermarket.
- Center Commercial Desmarais. Cora Supermarket, Jewelers Eurogold and Grain d’Or, HTS Orange Boutique, Mobil Telefone.
kitchen
- A Ka Joo, 2 rue de la République. Tel.: (0)590 810929.
- Délices Tropicales, 3 rue Campenon. Tel.: (0)590 810315.
- Jocelyn Douared Bar, 7 rue du Père Labat. Tel.: (0)590 924441.
- L'Estrade (ex Chef du Camp), 3 rue Lardenoy. Tel.: (0)590 817574. Medium prices, but not recommended.
- La Grande Gourmandise, 9 Avenue Paul Lacavé, Petit Paris. Tel.: (0)590 997281.
- La Taverne Royale, 20 Boulevard Félix Eboué. Tel.: (0)590 812434.
- Le Bananas Café, Rue Maurice Martin. Tel.: (0)590 812926.
- Le Baobab Tropical, 29 rue du Docteur Cabre. Tel.: (0)590 601307. Gourmet restaurant, medium prices.
- Le Caribbean Café, 30 rue de docteur Cabre. Tel.: (0)590 954564. Quick meals.Open: daily from 8 a.m.
- Le Carrefour Dumanoir, 4 rue Dumanoir. Tel.: (0)590 997008.
- Le Drourant, 26 rue du Docteur Cabre. Tel.: (0)590 811890.
- Le Filao, Rue Victor Hugues. Tel.: (0)590 819826.
- Le Palmier, 23 rue de la République. Tel.: (0)590 811371.
- Le Rendez-Vous de la Place, 3 rue Docteur Cabre. Tel.: (0)590 994093.
- Les Marquises, 9 rue Peynier. Tel.: (0)590 816100.
- Traversée du Paysan, 13 rue de Saumur. Tel.: (0)590 811887.
accommodation
- Le Relais du Houlemont, 34 rue République. Tel.: (0)590 814472, Fax: (0)590 843343. 8 rooms, restaurant, bar.Price: DR 42.50 - 53 €.
health
doctors
- Center Medico Social, 64 rue you Dr. Joseph Pitat. Tel.: (0)590 806100, (0)590 806102, Fax: (0)590 819339.
- Clinique de Chirurgie Esthétique, 10 rue Anna Jacquin, Boulogne. Tel.: (0)590 050505, Fax: (0)590 840708.
Pharmacies
- Pharmacie du Champ d'Arbaud, 10 Boulevard Félix Eboué. Tel.: (0)590 815200.
- Pharmacie Lamothe Maureaux, Center Commercial Cora, Desmarais. Tel.: (0)590 811442.
- Pharmacie Théobald et Célestine, 9 rue Cours Nolivos. Tel.: (0)590 811202.
optician
Practical advice
Banks
- Banque des Antilles Françaises, Boulevard du Général de Gaulle. Tel.: (0)590 993620, Fax: (0)590 993629.
- Banque Française Commerciale Antilles Guyane, 1 rue Doctor Cabre. Tel.: (0)590 810759, Fax: (0)590 810363.
information
- Office du Tourisme, Maison du Port, Cours Nolivos. Tel.: (0)590 812483, (0)590 816154, Fax: (0)590 811810.
police
- Gendarmerie, Rue Champ d'Arbaud. Tel.: (0)590 811035.
- Police Municipal. Tel.: (0)590 811162.
- Police Secours. Tel.: (0)590 811155. Auxiliary police.
administration
- Préfecture, Palais d`Orléans, Rue de Lardenoy. Tel.: (0)590 993900, Fax: (0)590 815832. Office hours: Mon, Tue Thu 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wed Fri 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
miscellaneous
- La Poste, near the port on rue Baudot. Tel.: (0)590 815707. Open: Mon - Fri 7 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat 7 a.m. - 12 p.m.
