Tourism Guide Baie Mahault en Guadeloupe
Second largest city of Guadeloupe, Baie Mahault is located at the contact point of the two islands Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre. Integrated with the town of Pointe-à-Pitre, Baie Mahault is the economic heart of Guadeloupe and its commercial area will please shoppers.
The name of the town comes from Mahault, a tree which looks like a mangrove tree, whose fibers were used for making ropes of sailing ships. Its coast is opened to several bays: the Lamentin Bay, Dupuy Bay, and Baie Mahault Bay. Seabed is of outstanding quality, which naturally leads visitors to the water activities.
History
The territory of Baie Mahault was long considered "a lost by water and completely uninhabitable country" because it was for the most part, covered with swamps. Gradually they have been drained and the culture of sugar cane have been developed .
Baie Mahault received the title of town only in 1837 because of its unhealthiness.
Today, much of the agricultural land is still used for growing sugar cane but the majority of Mahault Bay activity has become more industrial after the construction of the economic and industrial center Jarry. There are many companies and it has the largest shopping center in Guadeloupe.
To see / To do
With the three bays of Baie Mahault, water activities are naturally attractive. However, the town also has a remarkable architectural heritage.
St. John the Baptist Church: Built in 1933 at the site of an ancient sanctuary devastated by a cyclone, the church created by architect Ali Tur is made with reinforced concrete. Its large and rounded façade is similar to the fortified churches of the South West of France.
Wonch House: this traditional mid-nineteenth century is a square building with a gallery. It belongs to the family of Mr. Wonch who became the second mayor of Baie Mahault in 1840.
Descamps House: this 19th-century building was built according to traditional two-floor mansion. It belonged to Gaston Descamps, who was several times mayor of Baie Mahault between 1848 and 1871. |
