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| Le François | ||
| Arrondissement | Le Marin | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 16.423 (2018) | |
| Tourist information Tel | 596 (0)596 546750 (Tourist Office) | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Le Francois is a city in Martinique.
background
This community has developed from a farming and fishing village into a modern tourist center. It is the former parish of Father Labat. It is also the birthplace of Homère Clément, known as the pioneer of the rhum agricole, and General Brière de l`Isle, one of the glorious conquerors of Sudan and Tonking.
In the center of the village there is a modern church and an old whitewashed town hall on the market square. The vegetable and fish market is at the end of the village.
The beach is protected by a ring of small islands and sandbanks suddenly rising out of the water. The light sand makes the seabed appear almost white and the locals call the area Fonds blancs. You can find a lot of locals there on weekends.
getting there
In the street
This fishing village is on the Atlantic side of the island, across from the capital Fort-de-France. From there you can easily reach the place on the well-developed national roads N5 and N6.
mobility
Tourist Attractions
- Habitation Rhum Clement (with a small museum), Domaine de l`Acajou. Tel.: (0)596 546207, Fax: (0)596 546350. Open: daily 9 a.m. - 5.30 p.m., except in September.Price: Admission: adults € 7, children 7-18 years € 4, children under 7 years free.
Homer Clement, born July 12, 1852 in St-Pierre, is the son of a master tailor from Trinidad. With a scholarship, he studies medicine in Paris. He practices in the city of Francois, where he was elected to the city council in 1885, and a year later he was mayor. He died in Paris in 1923, where he received medical attention. He was a Knight of the Legion of Honor and since 1897 a member of the Martinique Chamber of Agriculture. He is buried in Francois' cemetery. His son Karl, a graduate engineer at the Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures in Paris and the Pasteur Institute, took over the business and is working to improve the quality of agricultural rum. In 1972, the Clement heirs were among the six largest distilleries in Martinique. Charles Clement died in 1973 and his two eldest sons, George-Louis and Jean-Jose became co-managers. Georges-Louis manages plantations, distilleries and sells. Jean-Jose, based in Paris, will retain responsibility for sales in France and for export.
In a first campaign, the mansion is being renovated in 1988 on a 16 hectare garden site from the 18th century. The three rooms on the ground floor will be converted into a large French-American style dining room. In 1996 it was declared a historical monument. A second campaign was carried out between September 2002 and April 2003, it gives the house back the look of the 19th century. The old rum distillery was closed in 1988, renovated in 2005 and is now a museum. http://rhum-clement.com
activities
Boat charter
- Nautic Cathedral, Cité la Jetée. Tel.: 596 (0)596 734627, Mobile: (0)696 300449, (0)696 917795, Fax: 596 (0)596 734627.
Cockfighting
Jet ski
- Jet for fun, Base Nautique. Mobile: (0)696 297777. Open: Tue - Sun 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.Price: 30 minutes 70 €.
Kayak
- Nature Kayak and Découverte, La Monnerot. Mobile: (0)696 934521.
Marinas
horse riding
- Equi’Libre, Center Equestre du François, Réunion Sud district. Tel.: 596 (0)596 547506, Mobile: (0)696 276667.
Water skis and scooters
shop
kitchen
- L'Emeraude, 11 rue Homère Clément. Tel.: (0)596 545054.
- L’Italy, Quartier Contonnerie, opposite the casino. Tel.: (0)596 772772. Pizzeria with delivery service.Open: daily 6 p.m. - midnight.
- La Perle Précieuse, 41 rue Homère Clément. Tel.: (0)596 541217.
- Pizzeria Prestige, Rue Homer Clément. Tel.: (0)596 541574.
- Kai Nono, Bois d`Inde. Tel.: (0)596 543276.
- La Fringale, 11 Citée la Jetée. Tel.: (0)596 542667.
- Cote Est, Morne Acajou. Tel.: (0)596 542378. Creole, grill.Open: daily 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. 7 p.m. - 10 p.m., closed on Sundays.
- Mercirem, Morne Acajou. Tel.: (0)596 541633.
- Relais de la Manzo, Morne Gamelle. Tel.: (0)596 542683.
- Les Brisants, Dostaly district. Tel.: (0)596 544029, (0)596 543257, Fax: (0)596 546913. Creole, fish.
- Le Cabanou, Quartier Dumaine. Tel.: (0)596 544425.
- Le Soudon, Mansard quarter. Tel.: (0)596 482510, (0)596 423369.
- Caraib Piz, Morne Pitault district. Tel.: (0)596 541440.
- Chez Milo, Presqu'iles. Tel.: (0)596 546570.
accommodation
- Bungalows de la Prairie, 10 studios, Route du Cap-Estate, Tel. 549416, Fax 549548. Restaurant, fishing, casino, tennis. Location: directly on the Atlantic.
- La Frégate Bleue ***, 7 suites and 1 apartment, Quartier Frégate, Tel. 545466, Fax 547848. Restaurant, pool, 1 conference room, location: 5 km outside. Prices in summer: single 70-100 €, double 90-126 €; in winter: single 110-150 €, double 122-170 €. Dinner, menu, € 23.
- La Riviera ***, 14 rooms, Route du Club Nautique, Tel. 546854, Fax 543043. Restaurant, bar, handicapped accessible. The hotel is located in the city center by the sea.
- Le Cap Est Lagoon Resort & Spa *****, 50 suites, Domaine de la Prairie, Cap Est, Tel. 548080, Fax 549600. 2 restaurants, 2 pools, bar, conference room, sauna, tennis court, wellness center, beach, kayaks, sailing, surfing. Location: on the hotel's own bay, 5 km from Francois. Built in 2003, renovated in 2008.
- Les Lilas Auberge de Beauregard, 16 rooms, Quartier Beauregard, Tel. 546303, Fax 547881. Restaurant, conference room for 70 people, diving club.
- Residence Plein Soleil ***, 16 rooms, Pointe Thalémont, Tel. 380777, Fax 655813. Boutique hotel, restaurant, pool, boutique, conference room. Prices in summer: single € 199-334, double € 112-179 per person; in winter: single 213-373 €, double 119-199 € per person. Overnight stay with breakfast, minimum 3 nights.
health
doctors
- Hopital Rural du Francois, Rue Perrinon. Tel.: (0)596 543049, (0)596 543877.
Pharmacies
- Pharmacie des Fonds Blancs Camouilly Lodéon, 10 rue Homère Clément. Tel.: (0)596 543054, Fax: (0)596 542116.
- Pharmacie de la Place, Rue Homère Clément. Tel.: (0)596 543245, (0)596 545837.
optician
- Visual Royal Optic, 42 rue Jean Jaurès. Tel.: (0)596 545133.
Practical advice
Banks
- Credit Agricole, 22 rue Homere Clement. Tel.: (0)596 543153.
- Credit Martiniquais, 54 rue Homere Clement. Tel.: (0)596 547060. Open: Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. 2.30 p.m. - 4.30 p.m.
police
- Gendarmerie. Tel.: (0)596 543003.
- Police Municipale. Tel.: (0)596 548217, Fax: (0)596 548226.
administration
- Mairie de Le François, Place Charles de Gaulle. Tel.: (0)596 543002, Fax: (0)596 547676. Mayor's Office.
- Syndicad d`Iniative, Boulevard Soleil Levant, Cité La Jetée. Tel.: (0)596 546750, Fax: (0)596 546750. Tourist office.Open: Mon, Tue, Thu Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wed 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sa 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
literature
Web links
- http://www.ville-francois.fr - Official website of Le François
