Natural sites in the Saints : Art & Culture

Art & Culture : Natural sites

Charming is the word that best describes Terre-de-Haut.. Its welcoming arc-shaped bay and its “Pain de Sucre”, a longish sentry striped by streaks of basalt flows gives the island a mini-Rio de Janeiro atmosphere at first sight. One day is more than enough if you only wish to go around the island, though its magnificent beaches, ravishing natural sites and the warm welcome of its small hotels incite you to stay longer if possible. The exotic taste of the island’s inhabitants is visible in their architecture: small red roofed houses circle the bay between Mouillage quarter and Fonds Cure Cove.
In the outskirts of the town , the picturesque little cottages give way to higher and higher volcanoes topped by ancient military forts, overlooking the region and its surroundings. A breathtaking sight to see.
Camel Hill (Mont du Chameau), the highest of the island’s extinct volcanoes , takes at least two hours to climb, is spite of its reasonable 309-metre height. You need to take the to road to Rodrigue Cove (Anse Rodrigue) to the South, then continue down the path of Cassin Meadow (Pre Cassin), which will lead you to the summit of the Camel, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view of Terre-de-Haut and its creeks, the cliffs of Terre-de-Bas, Dominica, Desirade, Marie-Galante and even the Soufriere. West of the bay, the enchanting fishing sites of the Saints’ inhabitants are to be discovered on foot: multicoloured, 8-metre-long wooden boats float just off the coastline west of the town.

Don’t miss the Bay of Pont-Pierre, about one kilometre outside the town, surrounded by its peculiar coral reef “The Pierced Rocks” (les Roches Percees), the shape of a fine croissant of sand. If you are a lover of excursions, try the trail of Crete (Trace des Cretes), a captivating tour towards Grande-Anse, largest of the island’s beaches, with its ochre cliffs splendid in the afternoon light. Be prudent when bathing in this area: access to the water may be difficult in some periods of the year.
North of the city, the Mouillage quarter is famous for its ravishing villas.
To the South lies Fonds Cure, a tiny, colourful fishing village, proud of its traditions and people: a scenic place to visit with its unusual church and slightly displaced bell tower.