 Kourou Beach | ||
| Kourou | ||
| Arrondissement | Cayenne | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 24.959 (2018) | |
| height | 2 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
| ||
The town Kourou located in French Guiana at the mouth of the river of the same name in the Atlantic. The fast growing, up and coming city is primarily used as the seat of the spaceport Center Spatial Guyanais known from which the European Space Agency ESA operated on.
Furthermore, Kourou is the starting point for the Îles du Salut and has some lovely beaches too.
background
Kourou goes back to a Jesuit mission that was established in 1700. Shortly after the Jesuits were expelled in 1763, an expedition of 10,000 French arrived in the same year, telling the story of the mythical land of gold El Dorado were lured. This was also due to the fact that France had just lost its territories in North America ("New France") to England. However, the expedition turned into a tragedy: about half of the pioneers died of tropical diseases, the survivors sat down on the mosquito and disease-free Ïles du Salut to cure themselves, and then returned to France. From this incident Kourou inherited the nickname green Helland the city remained an insignificant little place for so long.
An agricultural penal colony was set up on the offshore Îles du Salut and, on a smaller scale, on the mainland between 1852 and 1946, some of which can be visited today. Above all that has been preserved Tour Dreyfus, a tower used for Morse code between prisons on the islands and the mainland.
The modern Kourou was created in 1965 with the establishment of the spaceport Center Spatiale Guyanais justified. The French Foreign Legion has been stationed in Kourou since 1973, protecting, among other things, the installations of the space center.
The aerospace industry now dominates the Guyanese economy and ensures steady growth in the city, which is already the second largest municipality in French Guiana. The boom not only attracted French, but also Brazilians, Guyanese, Surinamese, Haitians and Asians. Probably because of the great inequality between the often destitute immigrants and the wealthy employees of the spaceport, Kourou also has a higher crime rate than one might expect from such a small town.
getting there
By plane
Kourou has only one small airfield that is not served by scheduled flights. However, there are tourist providers who offer flights to destinations in the area from there.
By bus
In the street
The tarred Route National 1 connects Kourou with Cayenne and St. Laurent du Maroni. Those who do not have a rental car are on the so-called taxi-co (Collective taxes) instructed, which drive the route irregularly at a very reasonable price.
By boat
mobility
There is no public transport in Kourou.
Tourist Attractions
- Center Spatial Guyanais. The spaceport can be visited on a guided tour by appointment. It is located west of the city on an approximately 30 km long stretch of coast. On the CSG website updated data and options are available. So it is e.g. possible to witness an Ariane rocket launch.
- Former penal colony
- Tour Dreyfus. A Morse Tower that used to be part of one of the prison complexes.
activities
The beaches of Kourou leave nothing to be desired compared to other Caribbean beaches.
shop
kitchen
nightlife
In February, the carnival month, that too Vaval is called, there are street parades every Sunday and the nightlife is also increasing in intensity.
- Pôle Culturel de Kourou, Avenue Thomas Guidiglo. Tel.: (0)594223290, (0)594223140, Email: [email protected]. Kourou cultural center, with regular events, cinema and art gallery.
accommodation
- Hotel Le Ballahou, Rue A. Martial 1-3. Tel.: (0)594 324206.
- Hotel des Roches, Ave des Roches. Tel.: (0)594 327826.
security
health
Practical advice
trips
literature
Web links
- http://www.kourou.fr - Official website of Kourou
- Kourou information portal (French)
