 | ||
| Îles des Saintes | ||
| region | Guadeloupe | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 2.661 (2015) | |
| height | 0 - 304 | |
other value for height on Wikidata: 309 m   | ||
| Tourist info | (0)590 943061 http://lessaintes.fr | |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
| ||
Les Saintes (also Îles des Saintes) is a group of islands in Guadeloupe.
background
The archipelago consisting of eight volcanoes is located 23 km south of Basse-Terre and 12 km from the Pointe du Vieux-Fort. The main island of Terre-de-Haut is approx. 5 km long and 2.5 km wide, and 1,730 people live there. The highest point is Le Chameau at 309 meters, to which a winding concrete road leads. The second inhabited island, Terre-de-Bas, has a roughly square shape of 2.8 x 2.8 km with a few bays and 1,270 inhabitants. The highest point is the Morne Abymes at 293 meters. All other islands in this group are uninhabited. At Petites Anses, Tere-de-Bas, there is the fishing port without quays. While on the island of Terre-de-Haut at Anse Morel a 15 m long quay was built for the fishermen.
history
After Columbus already visited the islands on his second voyage La Desirade and Marie-Galante had discovered another group of islands appeared on the horizon. He gave her the name Los Santosbecause he discovered her on All Saints Day.
In the following 150 years, the Karib Indians lived largely undisturbed on the archipelago. The first French colonists did not arrive until 1648, after a garrison had been built against Indian attacks and the English. This garrison received its confirmation no later than 1666, when the English were expelled here on August 15th. Due to the strategic location, there was constant fighting between the British and the French. They soon set up a battery of artillery or a small fortification on every hill, so that the group of islands was soon given the name “Gibraltar of the West Indies”.
On April 12, 1782, it came between the islands Les Saintes and Dominica to the historical sea battle "Battle of the Saintes“In which the French fleet under the leadership of Admiral Comte de Grasse was devastated by English Admiral Rodney. This had several consequences that the French attack on Jamaica did not take place, England became the leading naval power in the region and the small archipelago remained in British possession until 1816.
Plantation economy
The dry island climate and the small amount of agricultural land meant that no sugar cane could be grown on this group of islands. As a result, in contrast to Guadeloupe, there were only a few slaves here, the population still consists mainly of the descendants of the Breton and Norman colonists. Then as now, they earn their living by fishing, which they sell at the markets in Basse-Terre and Trois Rivières.
beaches
- Anse á Cointe. Well suited for swimming and diving.
- Baie de Marigot. Shallow, calm water, suitable for children. Water sports: UCPA Club, Tel. 590 995594.
- Baie de Pont Pierre. Small, reef-protected bay with brown sand. Boat rental, diving equipment, picnic area, camping is possible. Yachts have been banned from mooring there since 1996.
- Grand-Anse. White sandy beach near the airport, mostly windy, with high waves, only for good swimmers and surfers due to dangerous underwater currents.
- L'Anse Crawen, behind Bois Joli. With golden sand and shady trees, nudism is possible.
- L'Anse du Figuir. The beach is mostly empty and shadowless, well suited for diving.
- Plage de Pompierre. Horseshoe-shaped bay with a white sandy beach, picnicking and camping are possible here.
getting there
By plane
- Regional air traffic from Pointe-a-Pitre and Basse-Terre to Bourg des Saintes, Terre-de-Haut, IATA code - LSS, ICAO code - TFFS. The flight time from Basse-Terre is 15 minutes. Air Caraibes currently only operates scheduled flights on weekends from Friday to Sunday.
- Airport, air control, tel. 995032
Airlines
- Air Caraibes. Tel.: 590 851501 (Reservation).
- Tropic Air Line. Tel.: 590 202018.
By boat
- There are several daily connections between the islands of Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas operated by the shipping company Brudey Frères. The journey time is 15 minutes, the fare for the one-way trip is € 4, for a return trip € 6. Departures from Terre-de-Haut at 6.45 am, 9.30 am, 11.30 am, 3 pm and 4 pm. Departures from Terre-de-Bas at 8.20 a.m., 10.45 a.m., 3.20 p.m. and 4.15 p.m.
- The Brudey Frères shipping company sails from Terre-de-Haut to the city on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Basse-Terre. Tel. 590 900448. The journey time is 25 minutes, the fare for a one-way trip is € 17, a return trip € 24. Departures from Terre-de-Haut at 5.45 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. Departure from Basse-Terre at 12.30 p.m.
- The shipping company Comatrile goes to Terre-de-Haut every day except Mondays Saint-Louis on the island of Marie-Galante. The journey time is 45 minutes, the fare for a one-way trip is € 28 for a return trip € 38. Departures from Terre-de-Haut at 8.30 a.m.
- The shipping company Comatrile goes to Terre-de-Haut every day except Mondays Saint-Francois. The journey time is 1 hour and 40 minutes, the fare for a one-way trip is € 28 for a return trip € 38. Departures from Terre-de-Haut at 3:40 p.m.
- The Brudey Frères shipping company sails to Terre-de-Haut every day Trois-Rivières. The journey time is 25 minutes, the fare for the one-way trip is € 16 for a return trip € 22. Departures from Terre-de-Haut at 5.45 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- The shipping company CTM Deher goes to Terre-de-Haut every day Trois-Rivières. The journey time is 25 minutes, the fare for a one-way trip is € 14, and a return trip is € 21. Departures from Terre-de-Haut at 6.45 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- The shipping company Societe Maritime des Iles du Sud sails daily from Terre-de-Haut Trois-Rivières. The journey time is 25 minutes, the fare for a one-way trip is € 12, and a return trip is € 19. Departures from Terre-de-Haut at 6.00 a.m., 8.30 a.m., 2.45 p.m. and 5.15 p.m.
- The Express des Iles runs between Pointe-a-Pitre and Terre-de-Haut. The journey time is 45 minutes, the fare for the one-way trip is € 24.15 for a return trip € 33.90. Departures from Terre-de-Haut every day at 4.30 p.m.
- The Val’Ferry shipping company operates between Pointe-a-Pitre and Terre-de-Haut. The journey time is 45 minutes, the fare for the one-way trip is € 20 for a return trip € 32. Departures from Terre-de-Haut every day except Tuesday and Thursday at 4.30 p.m.
Tourist Attractions
- Musée du Fort Napoléon, Bourg des Saintes, Terre-de-Haut. Tel.: 590 610151. The fortification was built in the years 1844-1867 on the foundations of the previous building from 1782. Its walls and barracks were razed by Malgre les Anglais in 1809. The fort has been well restored in recent years. It is 114 m above sea level, has 430 m outer walls with 8 bastions, 8 casemates, 4 powder towers and walls up to 11 m high. The water cistern alone has an enormous capacity of 350,000 m³. The fort is used culturally and has an exhibition inside, the Musee d'Art Moderne and a local history room for Marine et Traditions Populaire.Open: daily 9 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.Price: Admission: adults € 3.05, children € 1.52.
activities
Diving
Events
- April 14th, the fishing festival: Les Saintes ont la Pêche, Terre-de-Haut.
- August 15th, Feast of the Patron Saint, Terre-de-Haut.
- August 16th, the fishing festival: Fête des Marins, Terre-de-Haut.
- December 6th, Feast of the Patron Saint, Terre-de-Bas.
shop
- Marchande Gallery, Bourg de Saintes, behind the church. Souvenirs, handicrafts.
- Mahogany, Main street, Bourg de Saintes. Tel.: 590 995012, Fax: 590 995569. West indigo, batik, silk painting.
kitchen
Restaurants in Terre-de-Bas
- Au Poisson valance, Petit Anse, Le Bourg. Tel.: 590 995099.
- Chez Eugenette, Plage de Grand'Anse, Grand Anse. Tel.: 590 998183.
- La Belle Etoile, Plague Grand Anse. Tel.: 590 998369.
- Le Phare, Petites-Anses. Tel.: 590 998223.
Restaurants in Terre-de-Haut
- Douceur des Iles, Route de la Plage de Bompierre. Tel.: 590 995284.
- El Dorado, Place de Hotel de Ville, Le Bourg. Tel.: 590 995431.
- La Toumbana, Rue de l’Aerodrome. Tel.: 590 995756.
- Ti Kaz La, Rue Bennoit Cassin, Fonds de Cure. Tel.: 590 995763.
accommodation
- Auberge Les Petit Saints **, Aux Anarcadiers, La Savane. Tel.: 590 995099, Fax: 590 995451. 11 rooms, restaurant, pool. Location: 200 m from the sea.Price: In summer: double room 69-91 €, studio 76-152 €; in winter: double room 91-122 €, studio 91-183 €.
- Hotel Bois Joli **, Anse á Cointe, Pain de Sucre. Tel.: 590 995038, Fax: 590 995505. 18 rooms and 8 bungalows, restaurant, bar, pool, souvenir shop. Location: by the sea, 2 km from Terre-de-Haut.Price: In summer: single 64-88 €, double 74-98 €, bungalow 2 people 140 €, 3 people 150 €; in winter: single room € 82-125, double room € 95-145, bungalow 2 people € 203, 3 people € 211. Rental prices including breakfast, visitor's tax per day 1 person € 0.77, 2 people € 1.53.
- Hotel Coco Playa (ex Jeanne d'Arc), Fund de Curé. Tel.: 590 924000, Fax: 590 995041. 12 rooms, restaurant, beach.Price: Overnight stay with breakfast in summer: single / double 68-106 €; in winter: single / double 91-129 €.
- Hotel Le Kanaoa, Pointe Coquelet, Anse Mire. Tel.: 590 995194, Fax: 590 995504. 18 rooms, restaurant. The small hotel is next to the Village Creole.Price: All year round: single / double 75-90 €.
- La Colline, Fund du Curé. Tel.: 590 853358, Fax: 590 853358. 5 bungalows, pool. Location: 50 m from the sea.Price: In summer: Bungalow 2-5 people € 60-130; in winter: bungalow 2-5 people € 76-150.
- Le Paradis Saintois. Tel.: 590 995616, Fax: 590 995611. 9 bungalows, pool. Location: 100 m from the sea.Price: All year round: bungalow for 1-2 people € 48-125.
- Le Village Creole **, Pointe Coquelet, Anse Mire. Tel.: 590 995383, Fax: 590 995555. 20 apartments, reception, mountain bike rental. Location: 1 km from Terre-de-Haut.Price: In summer: double room € 70; in winter: double room € 128.
- Les Petits Saints (ex Auberge des Anacardiers) **, La Savane. Tel.: 590 995099, Fax: 590 995451. 12 rooms, suites and 3 apartments, restaurant, pool. Location: 200 m from the sea.Price: In summer: single / double room 90-190 €, apartment for 6 people 420 €; in winter: single / double room 110-240 €, apartment for 6 people 520 €. Rental prices including breakfast, visitor's tax per day and person € 0.77.
- U.C.P.A. (Union Nationale des Centers Sportifs de Plein Air), Baie de Marigot. Tel.: 590 995494, Fax: 590 995528. 27 bungalows, restaurant, beach, kayaks, sailing, surfing, diving.
health
Emergency medicine
- Polyclinic, Terre-de-Bas. Tel.: 590 998110, 590 998304.
- hospital, Terre-de-Haut. Tel.: 590 995039.
- pharmacy, Main street, Terre-de-Haut. Tel.: 590 995144.
Practical advice
police
- Gendarmerie, Petite Anse, Terre-de-Bas. Tel.: 590 998008.
- police, Bourg, Terre-de-Haut. Tel.: 590 995377.
Administration, information
- Office Municipal du Tourisme, Terre-de-Haut, Rue de la Grande Anse. Tel.: 590 995860, Fax: 590 995848.
Postal services
trips
Boat trips to the small, uninhabited island of Ilet A Cabrit in front of Terre-de-Haut. On the 85 m high plateau you can find the partially overgrown remains of Fort Josephine from the 19th century. Fort La Reine and Le Penitencier, used as a prison and quarantine station, were built in 1851 at the same location.
